Support for SMEs

To support applied research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by R&D Centres or designated local public research institutes with a view to transferring the R&D results to local industries, and encourage universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) to collaborate with leading research institutes worldwide to conduct more theme-based inter-disciplinary and translational R&D work in focused technology areas.

Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP) comprises ITSP (Platform & Seed) and ITSP (Mid-stream, theme-based).

For ITSP (Platform & Seed), it supports "Platform R&D Projects" and "Seed Projects". The intellectual property (IP) right is owned by lead applicant.

Platform Projects

• Industry-oriented applied R&D projects with potential for commercialisation
• Maximum Project Duration: 24 months
• Industry Sponsorship: At least 10% of the total project cost

Seed Projects

• Exploratory and forward-looking in nature
• Maximum Funding Support: HKD2,800,000 undertaken by R&D Centres; HKD1,400,000 undertaken by other applicants
• Maximum Project Duration: 18 months
• Industry Sponsorship: Not mandatory

For ITSP (Mid-stream, theme-based), it has the following key features:

• Theme-based
• Maximum Funding Support: HK$5,000,000 per project for Standalone Projects; HK$10,000,000 per project for Collaboration Projects involving multiple disciplines or research institutes (priority accorded)
• Maximum Project Duration: 36 months
• Industry Sponsorship: Not mandatory
• Intellectual Property Rights Ownership: Lead applicant

For ITSP (Platform & Seed), the lead applicant must be an R&D Centre or a designated local public research institute.

R&D Centres refer to -

• Automotive Platforms and Application 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; and
• Nano and Advanced Materials Institute.

Designated local public research institutes refer to -

• Local universities (including including all University Grants Committee-funded institutions);
• 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; and
• The Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology.

For ITSP (Mid-stream, theme-based), the lead applicant must be a university funded by the UGC.

• ITSP (Platform & Seed) and ITSP (Mid-stream, theme-based) invite applications for funding once a year. For ITSP (Platform & Seed), applications from R&D Centres will be accepted all year round. 
• Applications must be submitted to the Innovation and Technology Fund Secretariat electronically through the Innovation and Technology Commission Funding Administrative System.