What is Social Innovation Impact Project Fund (SI-IPF)?
As part of a strategic restructuring of CUHK’s internal funding portfolio, the Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (KPF) has now concluded and will be succeeded by new initiative — the Social Innovation Impact Project Fund (SI-IPF). The SI-IPF supports research-based, late-prototype projects with strong social innovation potential, aiming to transform academic knowledge into real-world solutions that create positive social impact and address pressing community needs.
Eligibility
- Project Leader and Co-Leader(s) should be full-time CUHK staff on professoriate or research academic ranks. Other teaching staff will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All CUHK staff, students and non-CUHK members may join as team members.
- The project must achieve a minimum of Societal Readiness Level (SRL) 4 or above.
Funding Amount
Up to HK$200,000 for 1 year
Assessment Criteria
- Impact in response to the social needs and immediate benefits to target beneficiaries - 30%
- Potential to engage wider audience or strengthen the community’s capacity to address social issues - 20%
- Relevancy to the research outputs -20%
- Innovativeness (i.e. new approach, procedure or method to address existing problem) – 15%
- Potential sustainability after the KT-IPF fund – 10%
- Performance of Prototyping – 5%
Important dates
10th Sept 2026– Information Session
14th Sept 2026 – Call for Proposals
13th Nov 2026 – Submission Deadline
Mid-Mar 2027 – Results Announcement
1st Apr 2027 – Project Commencement