Ans.: Basically, you need a computer with an Internet connection and a supported web browser. The recommended system configurations for access to the GRF system through the Internet are as follows:

- IBM compatible PC with minimum RAM of 128MB,

- Color display with screen resolution at 800 x 640 dpi ,

- Internet Explorer 5.5 / Netscape v6.0 or above,

- Acrobat reader 5.0 or above (for viewing of PDF files) or Acrobat writer 5.0 (for uploading PDF files) or above or equivalent

Q A2.: How to login to the GRF system? (For all user roles)

Ans.: User can enter the website http://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk to access the GRF system. This website will also be linked up from the RGC website http://www.ugc.edu.hk/RGC. A welcome page will pop up.

Public users do not require any user ID and password to access the ‘Public Enquiry’ function. For enquiry about information on GRF-funded projects, simply click the ‘Search’ button on the welcome page.

For users in UGC-funded institutions (i.e. Principal Investigators, Internal Vetting Committee Chairmen, Internal Reviewers, Institutional Approving Authorities and Research Officers), please click your Institutional Logo to enter the system.

For RGC Panel Members and External Reviewers, please click the GRF logo.

A login menu will pop up. Users have to enter the pre-assigned User ID and Password and to select their appropriate Roles, e.g. Panel Chairman, Panel Member, or External Reviewer, etc. for access to the GRF system. The corresponding menu page for each user role will pop up. .

Q A3.: What are the roles and corresponding functions currently provided by the GRF system?

Ans.: The following user roles and functions are currently defined in the GRF system:

User Type	User Roles	Functions to access
Users in UGC-funded institutions	Principal Investigator	Prepare and submit Proposal to Internal Vetting Committee (IVC) / Research Office (RO) of his own institution.
		Prepare Proposal Updates and Submit Proposal Updates to RO
		Prepare Project Revision and Submit Project Revision to IVC / RO
		Prepare Project Change Request and Submit Project Revision to IVC / RO
		Prepare Annual Progress Report and Submit Annual Progress Report to IVC / RO
		Prepare Project Completion Report and Submit Project Completion Report to IVC / RO

	Research Office(RO)	Submit Proposals to RGC
		Withdraw Proposals
		Submit Proposal Updates to RGC
		Submit Project Revision to RGC
		Submit Annual Progress Report to RGC
		Submit Project Change Request to RGC
		Submit Project Completion Report to RGC
		Submit Project Financial Report to RGC

	Institution Approving Authority	Endorse Proposal for submission to RGC

	Internal Reviewers	Internal Vetting /Review of Proposals
		Internal Vetting /Review of Project Revision
		Internal Vetting /Review of Project Change Request
		Internal Vetting /Review of Annual Progress Report
		Internal Vetting /Review of Project Completion Report

	Internal Vetting Committee Chairman (1^st/ 2^nd/3^rd Level)	Internal Vetting/ Review of Proposals
		Assign Internal Vetting Reviewers to Proposals
		Internal Vetting / Endorsement of Proposals
		Internal Vetting /Review of Project Revision
		Assign Internal Vetting Reviewers to Project Revision
		Internal Vetting / Endorsement of Project Revision
		Internal Vetting / Review of Project Change Request
		Assign Internal Vetting Reviewers to Project Change Request
		Internal Vetting / Endorsement of Project Change Request
		Internal Vetting / Review of Annual Progress Report
		Assign Internal Vetting Reviewers to Annual Progress Report
		Internal Vetting / Endorsement of Annual Progress Report
		Internal Vetting / Review of Project Completion Report
		Assign Internal Vetting Reviewers to Project Completion Report
		Internal Vetting / Endorsement of Project Completion Report

RGC panel members and reviewers	Panel Chairman	Assign Panel Members to Proposals
		Nominate External Reviewer for Proposal Assessment
		Submit Preliminary Assessment
		Approve/Reject Project Revision
		Approve/Reject Project Change Request
		Review Annual Progress Report
		Nominate External Reviewer for Project Assessment
		Submit Final Assessment
		Endorse Project Final Rating

	Panel Members	Nominate External Reviewer for Proposal Assessment
		Submit Preliminary Assessment
		Approve/Reject Project Revision
		Approve/Reject Project Change Request
		Review Annual Progress Report
		Nominate External Reviewer for Project Assessment
		Submit Final Assessment

	External Reviewers	Submit Interim Reply
		Submit Proposal Assessment
		Submit Project Assessment

Q A4.: Can users have multiple roles ?

Ans.: A User may be granted with one or more user roles. As the system will grant different access rights to different roles, users who are granted with multiple roles will have to determine which role he/she should use in order to access the appropriate functions. The default user role in the login screen is “Principal Investigator” and users should select the right user role by clicking on the pull-down menu before logging into the system.

Q A5.: What should I do if the welcome page is not displayed when connected to the GRF Website?

Ans.: One of the following situations may occur:

“System is under maintenance” is displayed, means the system is under maintenance and service would not be provided to the public. User can logout and wait for a moment and retry at a later time.

“The page cannot be displayed” shown on the browser when users click to the web site http://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk means there is network problem. Users may try the resilience link http://cerg2.ugc.edu.hk to access to the system. If problems persist, please check if the network problems are caused by user’s network provider or logout and retry..

Q A6.: When I try to login to the GRF system by clicking on the GRF logo or the institutional logo, a security alert dialog box about SSL Certificate is shown.

Ans.: The GRF system employs the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol to secure communication on the Internet. The SSL uses public-key technology and digital certificates to authenticate the server in a transaction and to protect information as it passes from one party to another over the Internet. When a client sends a message to a server, the server responds and sends its digital certification for authentication. The digital certification installed on the GRF system is issued by the local Certification Authority (CA) – the Hong Kong Post.

When user logon to the GRF system by clicking on the GRF logo or the institutional logo, a pop-up window has shown on IE browser to ask for permission from end-user to install the Hong Kong Post-Office Certification. By clicking “Yes” button on pop-up window, IE browser will install the Post-Office Certificate into the IE browser at this browser session only. The whole process needs to be done again when a new IE browser sessions is re-established. To install the certificate permanently into IE browser, press the “View Certificate” and then press the “Install Certificate” button on next pop-up window. Press the “Next” button until the certificate permanently installed into your IE browser and you don’t have to install the certificate again at your next Internet connection to GRF system.