Call for Applications: British Council Reconnect Travel Grant (Deadline: 25 January 2023)

The British Council is now inviting applications for academics and researchers from universities in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and the UK to apply for the Reconnect Travel Grant.

The grant will expand and strengthen links between the UK and science, research and innovation sectors in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea; and renew and develop research collaborations, particularly for early career researchers, through bilateral mobility support between the UK and the three Asian partner settings.

Priority themes
The grant supports the themes and priorities outlined in the UK Innovation Strategy and aligns with the objectives of the UK Science and Innovation Network. The themes for Hong Kong include:

• Healthy population – health tech and digital health, pandemics, mental health, health inequality, ageing, nutrition
• Net zero – clean energy, carbon reduction and sequestration
• Resilient planet – disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, adaptation and mitigation

Grant format
For the Hong Kong region, four grants worth GBP12,000 each will be offered to selected groups of 3-4 researchers, with at least one academic colleague holding a permanent academic or research post. The project duration is up to four months during 1 April 2023-28 February 2024.

The grant can cover travel and study activities which deliver the following objectives:

• Support relevant research – Travel Grants are intended to support research areas relevant to the themes and priorities and needs and interests of partners.
• Contribute to capacity building of early career researchers – The proposal should include a description of the capacity building potential of the project (both for the individual applicant, and other potential beneficiaries), and the longer-term impact that the project could achieve.
• Establish new research links or develop existing links – Travel Grants are intended to either support new links, or to develop existing links with the potential for longer term sustainability. Applications to return to the research group where the applicant carried out their PhD research or have previously taught will only be considered if they clearly demonstrate the latter.

Application
The grant must be jointly applied by an eligible UK institution and a Hong Kong university. Interested applicants should submit the attached application form and required materials to Chanya.tangsuk@britishcouncil.or.th by 25 January 2023 at 7:59am HKT.

Virtual information day
Interested applicants are invited to join the virtual information day on 12 January 2023 at 5-6pm HKT to learn more about the travel grant. Please click here for registration.

For more information, please refer to the website and the documents. Should there be any questions, please feel free to contact anna.lee@britishcouncil.org.hk. Applicants are advised to send a copy of their application to the Office of Academic Links (c/o Ms. LAI Ching Yee; chingyee@cuhk.edu.hk) for record.