Developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a critical step in implementing the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”. Led by Prof. Geoffrey Q.P. SHEN, PolyU Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Chair Professor of Construction Management of the Department of Building and Real Estate, the project “Policy Framework for Cross-Regional Cooperation Strategies in the Greater Bay Area’s Construction Industry” has received HK$3.96 million funding support from the SPPRFS 2023/24 for a period of 36 months. Focusing on development opportunities for the GBA under the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the research examines three strategic areas - talent cooperation, project management cooperation and regulatory cooperation. It aims to provide effective guidance and identify appropriate strategies to enable government departments and the industry to promote high-quality cooperation within the construction industry across the GBA.
In addition to this funding, in the two rounds of the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (PPRFS) 2023/24, PolyU secured funding for a total of eight projects encompassing different key areas such as cooperation with the Mainland, economic development, innovation and technology, environmental protection, education and youth development, political development and governance, and livelihood issues. PolyU projects funded in the latest round include: “Assessing the Adaptation of New Energy Vehicles in Hong Kong: The Future of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles and Electric Vehicles”, led by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology; “Policy Recommendations on Sustainable Logistics Development in Hong Kong under the Global ESG Trend and Initiatives”, led by Dr Yung Po TSANG, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; “Electrifying the Bus System in Hong Kong: Feasibility Analysis and System Optimization”, led by Dr ZHUGE Chengxiang, Assistant Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics; and “Relationship between Travel Behaviour and Built Environment Factors: Impacts on Mobility and Quality of Life of People with Physical Disabilities”, led by Dr Esther H.K. YUNG, Associate Professor of the Department of Building and Real Estate.
Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “PolyU has always been dedicated to conducting evidence-based research projects, ensuring we remain aligned with national development and contribute strategic suggestions for public policy research in Hong Kong. We are delighted to have attained excellent results in both funding programmes initiated by the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit. PolyU will continue to uphold our research strengths, envision the future, and provide innovative solutions for long-term development to fulfill societal needs and benefit all sectors.”
SPPRFS and PPRFS are administered by the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit. Funded projects are expected to provide valuable insights into the Government’s policy-making process, with outcomes which can be effectively and practically translated into policy. SPPRFS aims to support longer-term public policy research on strategic themes and research areas identified by the Government, with a funding cap of HK$5 million for each project. PPRFS focuses on smaller-scale public policy research of shorter duration, with a funding cap of HK$1 million or below for each project.