Support for SMEs

Public Sector Trial Scheme – ITF Projects (PSTS-ITF)
To provide funding support for production of prototypes/samples and/or conducting of trials in the public sector to facilitate and promote the realisation and commercialisation of research and development results under ITF projects.

Public Sector Trial Scheme for Incubatees & Graduate Tenants of Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (PSTS-SPC)
To provide funding support for production of prototypes/samples and/or conducting of trials in the public sector by incubatees and graduate tenants of the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport).

Public Sector Trial Scheme for Technology Companies Conducting Research and Development (R&D) Activities in Hong Kong (PSTS-TC)
To fund the production of prototypes/samples and/or conducting of trials in the public sector by technology companies conducting R&D activities in Hong Kong.

PSTS-ITF

• Maximum Funding Support: 50% of the actual cost of the original R&D project (and up to 100% for projects initiated by R&D Centres).
• Maximum Project Duration: 24 months.
• Industry sponsorship: NOT mandatory.
• Use of samples/prototypes and conducting of trials are confined to the public sector which includes Government bureaux and departments, public bodies, non-profit-making trade associations, charitable organisations, etc.
• Trial projects should aim to facilitate the development of new products not already available in the market currently, and should employ the R&D results/deliverables of the completed ITF projects.

PSTS-SPC

• Maximum funding support: HKD1 million per trial project.
• Maximum project duration: 12 months.
• Deployment of samples/prototypes and conducting of trials are generally confined to the local public sector which includes Government bureaux and departments, statutory bodies and/or Hong Kong Government subvented non-governmental bodies in the welfare sector.
• The project should aim to facilitate the development of new products not already available in the market, and should employ the R&D results/deliverables developed by the applicant itself.

PSTS-TC

• Maximum Funding Support: HKD1 million per project.
• Maximum Project Duration: 12 months.
• Deployment of samples/prototypes and conducting of trials are generally confined to the local public sector which includes Government bureaux and departments, statutory bodies and/or Hong Kong Government subvented non-governmental bodies in the welfare sector.
• The project should aim to facilitate the development of new products not already available in the market, and should employ the R&D results/deliverables developed and owned by the applicant itself.

PSTS-ITF
All completed ITF R&D projects undertaken by R&D Centres* and designated local public research institutes# are eligible for funding support under the Scheme. The applicant should either be the R&D Centre/designated local public research institute undertaking the project; or the company owning the intellectual property (IP) of the project deliverables.

PSTS-SPC
The applicant should be a current incubatee or graduate tenant of HKSTPC or Cyberport. The R&D outcomes for trial need to be developed by the applicant, and should align with its business plans.

PSTS-TC
The applicant should be a technology company incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) or registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) which is conducting R&D activities in Hong Kong. The technology company must not be a government subvented organisation or a subsidiary of any government subvented organisation. The R&D outcomes for trial need to be owned by the applicant company and developed by the applicant company primarily in Hong Kong and should align with its business plans.

*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 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.

PSTS-ITF, PSTS-SPC and PSTS-TC are open for application all year round.