HKIMR Open-bid Applied Research Programme - Call for Proposals

Description

Call for Proposals

The Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research (HKIMR) is the research arm of the Academy of Finance (AoF) and affiliate of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

The Open-bid Applied Research Programme of the HKIMR aims to publish high-quality research studies that explore topics relevant to the financial services industry and regulators. Although it is desirable for the submitted research proposals to have a focus on Hong Kong and the region, international studies with implications and applications of the research for Hong Kong and the region may also be considered.

We invite researchers to submit research proposals that address topics within one (or more) of the following themes:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in financial services. Research proposals on the following topics are especially encouraged: benefits and risks of the adoption of generative AI in financial services; the impact of AI on sustainable finance developments; ethical and regulatory implications arising from the use of AI in financial services; generative AI in financial services and its impact on the macroeconomy

2. Transition finance and their implications for the financial services industry. Research proposals on the following topics are especially encouraged: impact investing and transition finance; impact of net-zero transition on financial performance; the role of disclosures and standards in green transition; design of carbon trading schemes; risk management and corporate governance in transition finance; financial instrument innovation towards net-zero transition and their implications on financial services

3. Developments in regional and international financial connectivity and cooperation. Research proposals on the following topics are especially encouraged: the implications of financial cooperation and connectivity of Hong Kong with Mainland China, ASEAN and the Middle East; implications of geo-economic fragmentation for regional and global value chains and financial connectivity; implications of global supply chain shifts for frontier technology developments; regional adaptation of financial services; regional and global impact of the opening up of the Mainland’s financial markets; developments in the use of local currencies for trade and investments in the region

4. Developments in the microstructure of financial markets in Hong Kong and the region. Research proposals on the following topics are especially encouraged: macroeconomic implications of changes in the institutional structure of financial markets; green transition developments and their impact on market quality and asset market’s resilience; impact of market fragmentation on price discovery and information asymmetry in digital asset ecosystem; technological developments and settlement cycles in security markets; dynamics and liquidity in digital money markets; the impact of AI on security trading, asset allocation along with its regulatory implications

Successful applicants will receive an honorarium, taking into account the seniority and the qualification of the researcher, and reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses in Hong Kong for a short visit to the Institute. The studies will have to be completed within 6 months from a mutually agreed commencement date.

We will only consider research projects that are novel. Projects that are completed/close to completion (i.e. projects for which a draft paper has been already circulated and/or presented at conferences/seminars) will not be eligible for consideration. Note that submissions are not grant applications; therefore, requests for research support, data purchase and multi-year research work will not be entertained.

The deadline for the submission of applications is 31 January 2025. The results of the selection process will be notified to successful applicants by May 2025. For submissions and further enquiries, please contact hkimr@hkma.gov.hk.


Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research

Additional Information

Submission Guidelines

In order to facilitate the evaluation of proposals submitted to the HKIMR Open-bid Applied Research Programme, we suggest that applications should:

• be submitted in MS Word format or in PDF to the Institute by email to hkimr@hkma.gov.hk.
• be accompanied by the researcher’s CV.
• specify the theme and topic of interest for the study.
• include the following sections in the proposal:
1. Motivation and objectives
2. Research issues and themes to be addressed
3. Methodology and relationship with existing studies
4. Data requirements and sources (and any other required resources, such as specialised software)
5. Any practical implications and applications of the study for Hong Kong and the region
6. Deliverables and time frame for the study (availability of the researcher)
7. List of references to other relevant work by the researcher or others
• be kept to a maximum of 3-4 pages of single-spaced text, excluding any references.
• be accompanied by recent works written by the researcher on similar or related topics (maximum two papers).

Please also note that:
We will only consider research projects that are novel. Projects that are completed/close to completion (i.e. projects for which a draft paper has been already circulated and/or presented at conferences/seminars) will not be eligible for consideration.

The paper (papers) written, partly or wholly under the HKIMR Open-bid Applied Research Programme, is (are) required to acknowledge the financial support of the HKIMR when the papers are disseminated through seminars and conferences, internet outlets (including company’s websites) or submitted to academic or practitioner’s journals for publication.