Congratulations to Prof Julien CHAISSE on Obtaining the RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS)

The Research Grants Council (RGC) has announced the recipients of the 2025–2026 RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS). The SRFS provides sustained research support together with relief from teaching and administrative duties to enable outstanding full Professors to dedicate significant time and resources to long-term, high-impact projects.

The School of Law at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is proud to announce that Professor Julien Chaisse has been awarded an SRFS grant of HK$8,222,400 to support a major five-year research initiative. With this award, Professor Chaisse assumes the distinguished title of RGC Senior Research Fellow, a recognition reserved for scholars with exceptional records of academic excellence and leadership. This is only the third time the fellowship has been awarded to a law professor in Hong Kong and the first time in history that it has been granted to a faculty member of CityUHK School of Law. Professor Chaisse will receive full teaching & administrative relief during the fellowship, which will allow him to form and lead a research team of high calibre. 

Running from until 2030, Professor Chaisse’s project is titled “Semiconductors, Quantum Computing, and AI: Pioneering the Future of Trade and Sustainability in International Economic Law.” The research will examine how international trade and investment law must adapt to address the challenges posed by three rapidly advancing and interconnected industries: semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Advanced chips now power most connected devices. Quantum computing will enable processing capabilities that can transform fields such as finance, health care, and logistics. Artificial intelligence is already changing how businesses and governments operate. The growth of these industries has led to more trade and investment disputes. Divergent policies, including the United States’ CHIPS Act, Europe’s AI legislation, China’s industrial policies, and subsidy programmes in Japan and Korea, are creating friction. Export controls, forced technology transfer, and state aid disputes are increasingly raised before the WTO and in investor–state arbitration, creating uncertainty for investors and businesses.

These tensions have direct implications for Hong Kong. As a leading hub for trade, investment, and finance, Hong Kong’s role depends on predictable and transparent rules. Supply chain financing, technology partnerships, and cross-border capital flows are particularly vulnerable to regulatory and trade conflicts. The city’s courts, arbitral institutions, and financial networks frequently serve as venues for resolving disputes involving these industries, making legal clarity essential for safeguarding Hong Kong’s strategic position in Asia’s high-tech economy.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Julien Chaisse on receiving this prestigious grant and the distinguished title of RGC Senior Research Fellow. This recognition not only empowers him to lead a transformative research initiative with significant global impact but also further solidifies CityUHK School of Law’s position as a pioneer in advancing legal research at the highest international level.

 

About the RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS)

The RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) is a highly competitive annual initiative that provides long-term support to outstanding full professors at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. In addition to generous research funding, the scheme offers relief from teaching and administrative duties, enabling recipients to devote their time fully to research.

Each year, ten fellowships are awarded across all academic disciplines. Applications are reviewed by one of two selection panels: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) or Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies (HSSB). Beyond academic excellence, the selection process also considers the proposed project’s potential contribution, societal relevance, and capacity to generate impact beyond academia. The SRFS plays a key role in supporting world-class research and helping Hong Kong universities retain leading scholars engaged in forward-looking, high-impact work.

More info: https://awards.ugc.edu.hk/award/rgc-senior-research-fellow-scheme