Government Funding Scheme & Support
The Hong Kong Government is committed to supporting startups and SMEs to help realize their vision and take their business to the next level. Find out about government funding schemes available to assist your business.
- Anti-Epidemic Fund – Support Measures for SMEs and Startups (Special Relief Measures)
- Supporting Research & Development
- Nurturing Tech Talent Pool
- Government Co-Investment with Private VCs
- Facilitating Technology Adoption/
Patent Application Grant - Marketing Development/Business Upgrading
- SME Loan Guarantee/Export Credit Insurance
- Industry Focus Funding Schemes
- Hong Kong Science & Technology
Parks Corporation (HKSTP) - Cyberport
- Government Support Bodies
- Fintech
- Fintech Sandboxes
- Innovation Solutions For Public Services Needs
Anti-Epidemic Fund - Support Measures for SMEs and Startups (Special Relief Measures)
The novel coronavirus epidemic has brought exceptional challenges to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has responded to the needs of the public and the society in an unprecedented manner. Our objectives are: first, to help businesses stay afloat; second, to keep workers in employment; third, to relieve financial burdens of individuals and businesses; and fourth, to assist the economy to recover once the epidemic is contained.
The Government has launched a few rounds of measures to assist the affected industries and the public, including:
- The first round of the $30 billion Anti-epidemic Fund approved by the Legislative Council on 21 February 2020
- The $120 billion relief package in the 2020-21 Budget announced by the Financial Secretary on 26 February 2020
- The second round of the $137.5 billion Anti-epidemic Fund measures approved by the Legislative Council on 18 April 2020
- The third round of $24 billion Anti-epidemic Fund and other measures announced on 15 September 2020
- An injection of $6.4 billion into the Anti-epidemic Fund approved by the Legislative Council on 21 December 2020
Besides, the Anti-epidemic Fund Steering Committee approved 16 new measures having regard to the development of the pandemic and the actual business situation of various industries.
Anti-Epidemic Fund - Startups and I&T Related Only
Distance Business Programme
Rental waivers for tenants at the Science Park, industrial estates and Cyberport
merchant outlets at the Hong Kong Science Park, InnoCentre, industrial estates and Cyberport.
Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G
Loan Guarantee
Special 100% Loan Guarantee under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme
Supporting Research & Development
Enhanced Tax Deduction for R&D Expenditures
Entreprise Support Scheme (ESS)
Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (TCFS)
Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP)
Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme (MHKJFS)
Midstream Research Programme for Universities (MRP)
Partnership Research Programme (PRP)
Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme (CRS)
Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU)
Nurturing Tech Talent Pool
Development Fund for the Travel Industry
Maritime and Aviation Training Fund
Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme (RTTP)
Research Talent Hub for Incubatees and I&T Tenants of the HKSTPC and the Cyberport (RTH-SPC)
Research Talent Hub for ITF projects (RTH-ITF)
Research Talent Hub for Technology Companies Conducting R&D Activities in Hong Kong (RTH-TC)
STEM Internship Scheme
Talent List Hong Kong
Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)
Youth Development Fund
Government Co-Investment with Private VCs
The Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF)
Facilitating Technology Adoption/Patent Application Grant
Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme (RFS)
Public Sector Trial Scheme for Technology Companies Conducting Research and Development (R&D) Activities in Hong Kong (PSTS-TC)
Public Sector Trial Scheme for Incubatees & Graduate Tenants of Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (PSTS-SPC)
Public Sector Trial Scheme – ITF Projects (PSTS-ITF)
Patent Application Grant
Retail Technology Adoption Assistance Scheme (ReTAAS)
Technology Voucher Programme (TVP)
Marketing Development/Business Upgrading
Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund (TSF)
Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund)
General Support Programme (GSP)
SME Export Marketing Fund
SME Loan Guarantee/Export Credit Insurance
Export Credit Insurance
SME Financing Guarantee Scheme
SME Loan Guarantee Scheme (SGS)
Industry Focus Funding Schemes
Chinese Medicine Development Fund
Cleaner Production Partnership Programme
Construction Innovation & Technology Fund (CITF)
CreateSmart Initiative
Design Incubation Programme
Fashion Incubation Programme (FIP)
New Energy Transport Fund (previously named Pilot Green Transport Fund)
Pilot Information Technology Development Matching Fund Scheme for Travel Agents (Pilot Scheme)
Recycling Fund
Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund)
The Innovation and Technology Fund for Better Living (“FBL”)
Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)
We empower the innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong through a host of strategic initiatives. We’re bridging innovators with various stakeholders as we build the city’s largest R&D base to turn ideas into market-ready solutions. Since 2002, we’ve cultivated successful Innovation and Technology (I&T) companies, formed strong local and international partnership networks and created a thriving community within HKSTP.
Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC)
HKSTP Ventures
Incu-App Incubation Programme
Incu-Bio Incubation Programme
Incu-Tech Incubation Programme
Leading Enterprises Acceleration Programme (LEAP)
Science and Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
TechnoPreneur Partnership Programme
Cyberport
Cyberport is an innovative digital community with about 1,500 technology companies. It is managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With a vision to be the hub for digital technology thereby creating a new economic driver for Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by cultivating talent, promoting entrepreneurship among youth, supporting start-ups on their growth journey, fostering industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners, and integrating new and traditional economies by accelerating digital adoption in the public and private sectors.
Cyberport focuses on fostering the growth of major technologies application namely FinTech, smart living, digital entertainment & esports, as well as technology development such as artificial intelligence (AI) & big data, blockchain and cybersecurity. With a team of committed professionals providing all round, value-added services, state-of-the-art facilities and smart workspaces to support our digital community, Cyberport is the flagship for Hong Kong’s digital tech industry.
Cyberport Accelerator Support Programme
Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF)
Cyberport Esports
Cyberport Incubation Programme
Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF)
Cyberport Tech Career Placement and Internship Programme (TCPIP)
Cyberport University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
Overseas/Mainland Market Development Support Scheme (MDSS)
Government Support Bodies
The Hong Kong Government is committed to supporting startups and SMEs to help realise their vision and take their business to the next level. Find out more about support services provided by various government departments and statutory bodies.
“Four-in-One” SME Centres
CreateHK
Cyberport
Hong Kong Design Centre
Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC)
Hong Kong R&D Centres
Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)
Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)
InvestHK
Trade and Industry Department (TID) of the HKSAR Government
Fintech
Fintech Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme
InvestHK FintechHK
Fintech Sandboxes
Financial regulators in Hong Kong have set up three supervisory sandboxes to enable financial institutions to conduct pilot trials of innovative applications, enabling them to obtain real market data and information on user experience before the launch of any formal product, thereby reducing development time and costs.
Fintech Supervisory Sandbox (FSS)
Insurance Authority Insurtech Sandbox (“Sandbox”)
SFC Regulatory Sandbox
Innovation Solutions For Public Services Needs
The Government has launched two major initiatives to encourage startups and SMEs to put forward innovation solutions in I&T and engineering areas to enhance the quality and efficiency of public services.