The Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO) announced today (February 28) the results of the 2018-19 Strategic Public Policy Research (SPPR) Funding Scheme.

     On the advice of the Assessment Panel, PICO has supported three projects with total funding of about $11 million in the 2018-19 SPPR Funding Scheme. A total of 17 applications had been received. 
 
     The SPPR Funding Scheme aims to support longer-term public policy research on strategic themes, build up research capacity and facilitate collaboration among institutions/think tanks on the strategic themes. The strategic themes for 2018-19 include (1) Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; (2) Belt and Road Initiative; (3) Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones; (4) Big Data and/or Smart City; (5) Re-industrialisation; (6) Sharing Economy; (7) Land and Housing Strategy; (8) Youth Development; and (9) Challenges of Population Ageing.

     Applications to the SPPR Funding Scheme are invited once a year, normally in the second quarter of a year. Applications are assessed by an assessment panel, chaired by and comprising experienced academics, who will take into account comments of reviewers who are academics and experts outside the panel in considering the applications. Each application is considered on its merits and the strategic relevance to public policy development of Hong Kong. A declaration of interests system is in place to ensure that the assessments are fair and impartial.

     Details of the funded projects have been uploaded to PICO's website (www.pico.gov.hk/en/PRFS).

Ends/Thursday, February 28, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:00

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