Support for SMEs

To provide funding support for local companies to conduct in-house research and development (R&D) work with a view to encouraging the private sector to invest in R&D.

• Funding support is provided on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis.
• Maximum funding amount is HKD10,000,000 per approved project.
• Each funded project should be completed within 2 years.
• Intellectual property rights generated from the project should be fully vested in the applicant.
• Recoupment of government's contribution is not required.
• Benefit Sharing of Commercialised R&D Results is not mandatory.

Normal track

• Incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)
• Registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310)
• Not a government subvented organisation* or subsidiary of any government subvented organisation

Designated track for SMEs

• Company with less than 100 employees
• Seeking funding support of not more than HKD2,800,000

*A government subvented organisation means an organisation that receives subvention from the Government on a recurrent basis. The subvention contributes towards the organisation's operational expenses, in exchange for its service to the public. The recurrent subvention may account for the bulk of the organisation's income or may just be a token contribution/sponsorship forming a small percentage of the organisation's total income.

• Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) is open for application all year round.
• Applicants must duly complete and sign the application form, and submit it together with supporting documents to the ESS Secretariat through the Innovation and Technology Commission Funding Administrative System (ITCFAS). One duly signed and stamped original hard copy shall also be submitted.