Located at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the HKTDC SME Centre provides you with all the resources you need to do business. Spanning 16,000 sq ft over two levels, our centralised resource and interactive service centre offers a comprehensive business library, meeting areas, function rooms, state-of-the-art facilities and business support services. It also serves as a one-stop shop for HKTDC to introduce comprehensive services in export marketing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Whether you are a new SME start-up or an established business looking for solid business contacts, up-to-date business information on overseas markets, latest industry trends and more, you will find them all here.

An array of workshops, business matching and networking activities are also held at the HKTDC SME Centre throughout the year to help you gain new business contacts and grow your business.

A hub that will diversify and grow the city’s economy, expand employment opportunities across a multitude of industries, raise Hong Kong’s status as a global powerhouse to a new level, foster talent and interest in STEM as well as offer them highly-sought-after tech careers, and most importantly, help create a sustainable world and brighter future for the younger generation.

HK Startup Society exists to serve Hong Kong’s startup entrepreneurs in their quest to achieve startup success through a wealth of exclusively curated content provided by an elite group of startup entrepreneurs around the world. Their platform provides a collection of resources created by established startup entrepreneurs exclusively for startups to benefit from their experience and wisdom.

The Smart LAB provides a platform to connect government departments with the information technology (IT) sector, particularly local start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to help departments leverage on the innovation and technical solutions from the industry to formulate innovative measures for enhancing the quality and efficiency of public services.

Support and Consultation Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises (中小企業支援與諮詢中心 in Chinese), is known as SUCCESS in short. SUCCESS is run by the Trade and Industry Department in collaboration with various industrial and trade organisations, professional bodies, private enterprises and other Government departments to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with business information and consultation services free of charge.

TecONE is the one-stop business support centre jointly run by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC). Located at Science Park, TecONE provides technology SME with comprehensive advisory services. Talks and activities are organised to facilitate technology SME to learn more about various funding resources available in the community, and to get connected with industry partners for collaboration opportunities which catalyse their growth.

Under the programme, each incubatee is expected to graduate within a period of up to 2 years. Throughout the incubation period, incubatees will enjoy a variety of support services including ready-to-use office, financial subsidies, business development and networking sessions to better prepare design-prenuers to meet the competitive challenges during the early and critical stages of development. Industrial organisations, academic institutes, investment angels, professional bodies and business partners are valued supporters of this programme.

The Fintech Supervisory Sandbox (FSS), launched by the HKMA in September 2016, allows banks and their partnering technology firms (tech firms) to conduct pilot trials of their fintech initiatives involving a limited number of participating customers without the need to achieve full compliance with the HKMA’s supervisory requirements. This arrangement enables banks and tech firms to gather data and user feedback so that they can make refinements to their new initiatives, thereby expediting the launch of new technology products, and reducing the development cost.

The Scheme will provide supporting services including mentorship and referral to entrepreneurial training to entrepreneurs and self-employed persons as required in order to enhance their ability in running business and also help them to resolve problems in their daily business operations.

The SME Loan Guarantee Scheme (SGS) provides loan guarantee to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help them secure loans from the participating lending institutions (PLIs) for acquiring business installations and equipment or meeting working capital needs of general business uses.

To help SMEs, including start-ups, grasp economic opportunities and boost their competitiveness, the 2018-19 Budget proposed to extend the geographical scope of the BUD Fund to include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets by launching the “ASEAN Programme”, and to increase the cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise for projects involving the Mainland China Market (the “Mainland Programme”).  The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved the enhancement proposal and funding injection of $1.5 billion in June 2018.

To continuously support Cyberport community companies, the Overseas/Mainland Market Development Support Scheme (MDSS) is announced by Hong Kong Government to provide a financial subsidy for graduates of Cyberport Incubation Programme (CIP) and Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF) to develop Mainland and Overseas market.

Projects to be supported under GSP may include conferences, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, promotional events, studies and surveys, youth activities, events or projects to support platform building / upgrading of industry, etc. In general, the GSP will not support projects for promotion of products/services of a specific commercial entity.

The Space Sharing Scheme for Youth (SSSY) is premised upon tripartite collaboration among the business sector, non-government organisations (NGOs) and the Government. Owners of revitalised industrial buildings and commercial buildings are invited to contribute floor areas for the operation of co-working space or studios to support young people. SSSY has received wide support and positive feedback from a great number of property owners, with properties distributed across Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Wong Chuk Hang, Lai Chi Kok, Wan Chai and other districts. Some of the properties are operated by NGOs , while some are run by the property owners themselves.

TSSSU provides funding to six universities to support their teams in starting technology businesses and commercialising their research and development (R&D) results.

The six universities are The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Baptist University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

From 2019-20 onwards, an annual funding of up to $8 million is provided to each of the six universities. Each funded technology start-up may receive up to $1.5 million each year for no more than three years.

The scope of funding of TSSSU includes essential items for setting up and operating the start-ups (e.g. furniture and equipment, legal and accounting services, rental of necessary and suitable premises, manpower, etc.), expenditure on R&D, and promotion activities and marketing of their R&D deliverables, products or services.

TSSSU funding is provided to the universities on a reimbursement basis after the close of each Government financial year.

The essence of our effort is to provide connections to the Cyberport network across continents with focus in Mainland China. While facilitating partnerships and alliances between Hong Kong’s digital technology SMEs and global enterprises to achieve mutual success, we also promote the exchange of technology and talent between Hong Kong and worldwide digital technology enterprises to fuel the growth of the digital technology industry in Hong Kong. Some of partners include, Accenture, Lenovo, Microsoft, NetDragon, etc.

The Cyberport Collaboration Service include:

Network
Partnership with industry players to foster exchange and collaboration

Opportunities
Business opportunities in Mainland China and overseas markets

Support
Professional advice and soft-landing support

In the 2017 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that enhanced tax deduction will be provided for expenditure incurred by enterprises on “qualifying research and development (R&D) activities” in order to encourage more enterprises to conduct R&D activities in Hong Kong. The deduction will be 300% for the first $2 million of the aggregate amount of payments made to “designated local research institutions”(DLRI) for “qualifying R&D activities” and “qualifying expenditures” incurred by the enterprises, and 200% for the remaining amount. There is no cap on the amount of enhanced tax deduction.

1. Internship Programme (Innovation and Technology Fund) (“IP-ITF”)

2. Internship Programme (Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited) (“IP-SPC”)

Launched in October 2016, Lion Rock 72 is the first co-working space outside Hong Kong Science Park set up by HKSTP. It serves to support our incubatees and let aspiring technology talent access HKSTP’s full range of pre-incubation and soft-landing business support services in a downtown location. It is designed to encourage young talent still in universities to gather and stay connected with HKSTP on the road to becoming a start-up business.

The MRP is a dedicated programme to encourage universities to conduct more midstream research. It also aims to foster more collaborative efforts among local and overseas universities and research institutions. Industry sponsorship is not mandatory under the MRP.

There are two types of projects under the MRP –

a. Standalone Projects:
The maximum funding support for standalone projects is HK$5 million per project.

b. Collaboration Projects involving multiple disciplines or research institutions:
The maximum funding for collaboration projects is HK$10 million per project. A co-applicant can be a different unit of the same university, or a different local/non-local university/research institution.

PRP, which merges the University-Industry Collaboration Programme (UICP) and the collaborative stream of Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP), was launched in January 2019. PRP aims to support research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by private companies in collaboration with local universities and public research institutions.

PRP provides matching funding support for approved projects. The maximum project duration is 3 years. Applications for PRP are open all year round.

PSTS provides funding support for production of prototypes/samples and conducting of trial schemes in the public sector to facilitate and promote the realisation and commercialisation of R&D results under ITF projects.

The prototypes/samples and the trial schemes should aim to facilitate the development of new products not already available in the market currently, and employing the R&D results/deliverables of the completed ITF projects.

The Science and Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) is a one-year startup support programme designed to nurture tech-focused entrepreneurs to become successful startups and help them turn their brilliant ideas into reality.

Programme Benefits

Through the programme, entrepreneurs will receive all-rounded support from HKSTP to acquire the essential skills to launch their new ventures. Apart from business model design and investment training, they will also receive guidance on fine-tuning ideas and technical development.

Participating entrepreneurs or startups will also have access to HKD$ 100,000 seed funding and a co-working space during the 12-month programme to realise their ideas.

To maximise the effectiveness the programme, a series of training will be arranged for the participants covering the following topics:

Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem
Technical skills on the latest technologies
Business model and business plan
Pitching preparation
Investment and finance
Funding support in Hong Kong

HKSTP’s TechnoPreneur Partnership Programme (TPP) has a simple goal: to nurture Hong Kong’s technology startup community, and to promote and encourage entrepreneurship. The programme provides a wide range of starup supports services including investment support service, the soft landing centre, lab facilities, coaching, training, promotion, community outreach, business development support and incubation programmes.
To do this, we’ve teamed up with six local universities, accelerators, co-working spaces, and the key players in the startup community to leverage their knowledge and market insights.
We share support services, our technical expertise, our resources, and most importantly we encourage networking.

All these elements come together to drive the entrepreneurial spirit, and create an ideal environment where startups can realise their dreams.

Teaching Company Scheme

Matching Grant for Joint Research

Industrial Research Chair Scheme