Support for SMEs

To support applied research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by R&D Centres or designated local public research institutes in collaboration with companies.

• Provide matching funding support for Collaborative R&D projects
• Maximum Project Duration: 36 months
• Industry Sponsorship: At least 50% of the total project cost
• Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Ownership: Industry co-applicant if it contributes at least 50% of the total project cost

The lead applicant must be an R&D Centre or a designated local public research institute, which should partner with an industry co-applicant to apply for PRP. The industry co-applicant can be either a company incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622); or an industry support organisation, a trade and industry association or professional body which has the legal capacity to enter into contracts.

Five R&D centres designated by the Innovation and Technology Fund

• Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre
• Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel
• Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, designated as the R&D Centre for Information and Communications Technologies
• Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre
• Nano and Advanced Materials Institute

Designated local public research institutes

• Local universities (including all institutions funded by the University Grants Committee)
• Self-financing degree-awarding institutions registered under the Post-Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320)
• The Hong Kong Productivity Council
• The Vocational Training Council
• The Clothing Industry Training Authority
• The Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology

• Partnership Research Programme is open for application all year round.
• Applications must be submitted to the Innovation and Technology Fund Secretariat electronically through the Innovation and Technology Commission Funding Administrative System.