Startup Funding in Hong Kong
Need Startup Funding in Hong Kong?
Start with 47 funding schemes from Hong Kong government. The funds are available for and may be applied by SMEs & non-profit organizations, including startup companies in HK.
- Funding schemes 1-40 are for local Hong Kong SMEs.
- Funding schemes 41-47 are for local Hong Kong non-profit organizations.
Do you have a new company in HK looking for Startup Funding? Or are you running a company (in a specific industry) that desperately needs upgrades on technologies? Go through the following list of Hong Kong government funding schemes, and find out which funding schemes may be the most suitable for your startup or company.
Type 1: Financing and Guarantee
- 1. SME Loan Guarantee Scheme
- 2. Microfinance Scheme
- 3. SME Financing Guarantee Scheme
Type 2: Market Development and Business Upgrading
- 4. SME Export Marketing Fund
- 5. Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund)
- 6. Retail Technology Adoption Assistance Scheme for Manpower Demand Management (ReTAAS)
Type 3: Supporting Research and Development
- 7. Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP)
- 8. Partnership Research Programme (PRP)
- 9. Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS)
- 10. Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme (CRS)
Type 4: Facilitating Technology Adoption
- 11. Technology Voucher Programme (TVP)
Type 5: Nurturing Technology Talent
- 12. Reindustrialization and Technology Training Programme (RTTP)
Type 6: Supporting Technology Start-ups
- 13. Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU)
Type 7: Patent Application
- 14. The Patent Application Grant
Type 8: Creative Industry
- 15. Design Incubation Programme
- 16. Fashion Incubation Programme
Type 9: Travel Industry
- 17. Pilot Information Technology Development Matching Fund Scheme for Travel Agents
- 18. Development Fund for the Travel Industry
Type 10: Science Park Programmes
- 19. Science and Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
- 20. Incu-Tech Incubation Programme
- 21. Incu-Bio Incubation Programme
- 22. Incu-App Incubation Programme
- 23. Leading Enterprises Acceleration Programme (LEAP)
- 24. Corporate Venture Fund (CVF)
Type 11: Cyberport Programmes
- 25. Cyberport Creative Micro Fund
- 26. Cyberport Incubation Programme
- 27. Cyberport Accelerator Support Programme
- 28. Market Development Support Scheme
- 29. Cyberport Macro Fund
Type 12: Environmental Protection
- 30. Cleaner Production Partnership Programme
- 31. Recycling Fund (Enterprise Support Programme)
- 32. Pilot Green Transport Fund
Type 13: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
- 33. Sustainable Agriculture Development Fund
- 34. Farm Improvement Scheme
- 35. Vegetable Marketing Organization Loan Fund
- 36. Kadoorie Agriculture Aid Loan Fund
- 37. J.E. Joseph Trust Fund to grant loans
- 38. Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund
Type 14: Construction
- 39. Construction Innovation and Technology Fund
Type 15: Chinese Medicine
- 40. Chinese Medicine Development Fund (Enterprise Support Programme)
1. SME Loan Guarantee Scheme
What is it for?
- Help SMEs secure loans from participating lending institutions for acquiring business installations and equipment or meeting working capital needs of general business uses.
Who can use it?
- SMEs with substantive business operations in Hong Kong
- Exception: Lending institutions and their associates
Contact info:
2. Microfinance Scheme
What is it for?
- Assist people who wish to start their own businesses, become self-employed or achieve self-enhancement through training, upgrading of skills or obtaining professional certification
Who can use it?
- Individuals aged 18 or above and holders of Hong Kong Identity Card (with the right of abode, right to land or stay in Hong Kong without restrictions)
Contact info:
3. SME Financing Guarantee Scheme
What is it for?
- Help SMEs and non-listed enterprises obtain financing from participating lenders for meeting business needs
Who can use it?
- Enterprises registered in Hong Kong (except listed companies, lending institutions and affiliates of lending institutions) and operating for at least 1 year
Contact info:
4. SME Export Marketing Fund
What is it for?
- Encourage SMEs to expand markets outside Hong Kong by participating in export promotion activities
Who can use it?
- SMEs
Contact info:
5. Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund)
What is it for?
- Assist Hong Kong enterprises in undertaking projects to develop brands, upgrade and restructure their business operations and promote sales in the Mainland / ASEAN markets
Who can use it?
- Non-listed local enterprises
Contact info:
6. Retail Technology Adoption Assistance Scheme for Manpower Demand Management (ReTAAS)
What is it for?
- Provide funding support for retail enterprises to adopt technologies for manpower demand management purposes and help enhance productivity
Who can use it?
- Non-listed enterprises (except catering industry) with substantive retail business operations in Hong Kong
Contact info:
7. Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP)
What is it for?
- Supports research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by designated local public research institutes and R&D Centres.
Who can use it?
- R&D Centres and designated local public research institutes
Contact info:
8. Partnership Research Programme (PRP)
What is it for?
- Support research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by private companies in collaboration with local universities and public research institutions
Who can use it?
- Locally incorporated companies, or industry support organisations/ trade and industry associations/ professional bodies having the legal capacity to enter into contracts
Contact info:
9. Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS)
What is it for?
- Encourage the private sector to invest in research and development (R&D)
Who can use it?
- Locally incorporated companies
Contact info:
10. Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme (CRS)
What is it for?
- Reinforce the research culture among private companies and encourage them to establish stronger partnership with designated local public research institutions
Who can use it?
- Enterprises registered in Hong Kong
Contact info:
11. Technology Voucher Programme (TVP)
What is it for?
- Support projects in the form of technological services and solutions to improve productivity, or upgrade or transform the business processes of enterprises
- Refer to this article on Technology Voucher Programme (TVP).
Who can use it?
- Non-listed local enterprises with substantive business operations in Hong Kong
Contact info:
12. Reindustrialization and Technology Training Programme (RTTP)
What is it for?
- Subsidize local companies to train staff in advanced technologies, especially those related to “Industry 4.0”
Who can use it?
- Enterprises registered in Hong Kong
Contact info:
13. Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU)
What is it for?
- Provides funding to designated local universities to support their teams in starting technology businesses and commercializing their research and development (R&D) results
Who can use it?
- Locally incorporated technology start-ups established for not more than two years, and the teams of the start-ups having any mix of the students and professors of the designated universities
Contact info:
14. The Patent Application Grant
What is it for?
- Assist local companies and individuals to apply for patents of their own inventions to capitalise their intellectual work
Who can use it?
- Locally incorporated companies or Hong Kong permanent residents which/who have never owned any patents in any countries or territories
Contact info:
15. Design Incubation Programme
What is it for?
- Nurture design start-ups at the early stage of their business development, with hardware and software support
Who can use it?
- Locally incorporated companies for not more than three years (and Hong Kong permanent residents)
Contact info:
16. Fashion Incubation Programme
What is it for?
- Foster local fashion creative economy and strengthen the positioning of Hong Kong design and fashion development in both pan-Asian and global contexts
Who can use it?
- Fashion design-oriented business either incorporated in Hong Kong or overseas for more than 3 years
Contact info:
17. Pilot Information Technology Development Matching Fund Scheme for Travel Agents
What is it for?
- Promote the adoption of information technology among SME-sized travel agents for upgrading their productivity and service quality, as well as strengthening their competitiveness in the local or overseas market.
Who can use it?
- Small and medium sized travel agents (employing fewer than 50 persons in Hong Kong) holding a valid travel agent’s license under the Travel Agents Ordinance (Cap. 218) with substantive travel agent business in Hong Kong
Contact info:
18. Development Fund for the Travel Industry
What is it for?
- Enhance the overall competitiveness of the local travel industry through subsidizing the training and promotional activities beneficial to travel agents
Who can use it?
- Small and medium sized travel agents (employing fewer than 50 persons in Hong Kong) holding a valid travel agent’s licence under the Travel Agents Ordinance (Cap. 218)
Contact info:
19. Science and Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
What is it for?
- Nurture tech-focused entrepreneurs to become successful startups and help them turn their brilliant ideas into reality.
Who can use it?
- Companies incorporated in Hong Kong for less than 1 year or Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 or above
Contact info:
20. Incu-Tech Incubation Programme
What is it for?
- Provide a range of business and professional services to assist technology startups during their inception stages
Who can use it?
- Hong Kong registered technology start-up companies limited by shares and established for not more than 2 years
Contact info:
21. Incu-Bio Incubation Programme
What is it for?
- Support the growth and development of biomedical tech start-ups in Hong Kong.
Who can use it?
- Hong Kong registered biomedical technology start-up companies limited by shares and established for not more than 2 years
Contact info:
22. Incu-App Incubation Programme
What is it for?
- Provide startup support to companies working on business innovation during their inception stages.
Who can use it?
- Hong Kong registered technology start-up companies limited by shares and established for not more than 2 years
Contact info:
23. Leading Enterprises Acceleration Programme (LEAP)
What is it for?
- Caters to startups’ distinctive needs for growth and accelerates their innovation onto the global stage.
Who can use it?
- Either be a current incubation company or a tenant of HKSTP
Contact info:
24. Corporate Venture Fund (CVF)
What is it for?
- Give early-stage Hong Kong technology startups a chance to fully develop their ideas and create revolutionary new tech products and services
Who can use it?
- Hong Kong registered technology companies who are either HKSTP incubatees, Incubation Programme graduates or current Science Park tenants
Contact info:
25. Cyberport Creative Micro Fund
What is it for?
- Encourage innovation and creativity by sponsoring high potential digital tech start-up projects and business ideas.
Who can use it?
- Locally incorporated limited companies or Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 or above
Contact info:
26. Cyberport Incubation Programme
What is it for?
- Support entrepreneurs and start-ups with resources that aim to accelerate their growth.
- Refer to this article on Cyberport Incubation Programme.
Who can use it?
- Locally incorporated limited companies
Contact info:
27. Cyberport Accelerator Support Programme
What is it for?
- Prepare Cyberport incubatees and alumni for international markets and investors
Who can use it?
- Cyberport incubatees or alumni
Contact info:
28. Market Development Support Scheme
What is it for?
- Provide a financial subsidy for graduates of Cyberport Incubation Programme (CIP) and Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF) to develop Mainland and Overseas market
Who can use it?
- Graduates or alumni from CIP and CCMF
Contact info:
29. Cyberport Macro Fund
What is it for?
- To invest in information and communications technology start-ups in Cyberport by providing them with seed to Series A funding, thereby fostering the development of venture capital and angel investments in Hong Kong
Who can use it?
- Digital technology companies with operation based in Hong Kong, which are either (i) incubatees or graduates of Cyberport’s other programmes, (ii) Cyberport Smart-Space companies, or (iii) Cyberport office tenants
Contact info:
30. Cleaner Production Partnership Programme
What is it for?
- Encourage and facilitate Hong Kong-owned factories in Hong Kong/Guangdong to adopt Cleaner Production technologies and practices
Who can use it?
- Enterprises registered in Hong Kong and owning and operating a factory in Hong Kong/Guangdong
Contact info:
31. Recycling Fund (Enterprise Support Programme)
What is it for?
- Provide funding support for individual Hong Kong enterprises to upgrade and expand their waste recycling operations in Hong Kong
Who can use it?
- Enterprises registered in Hong Kong and involved in recycling related operation
Contact info:
32. Pilot Green Transport Fund
What is it for?
- Subsidise the testing of green innovative technologies applicable to the public transport sector and goods vehicles
Who can use it?
- Existing transport operators based in Hong Kong (including cross-boundary transport) and operating in the relevant transport service for more than 1 year
Contact info:
33. Sustainable Agriculture Development Fund
What is it for?
- Support practical, application-oriented projects, schemes or research work that enhance farmers’ productivity and output, as well as contribute to fostering the sustainable development and enhancing the overall competitiveness of the agricultural industry
Who can use it?
- Company incorporated in Hong Kong having a close connection with the agricultural industry in Hong Kong or farmers seeking grants under the Farm Improvement Scheme.
Contact info:
34. Farm Improvement Scheme
What is it for?
- Provide direct grants to local farmers for acquisition of farming equipment and materials to improve their farming efficiency and productivity
Who can use it?
- Residents or incorporated companies/organisations of Hong Kong operating a crop farm engaged in commercial production of not less than 1 dau chung (d.c.) or licensed livestock farms in Hong Kong.
Contact info:
35. Vegetable Marketing Organization Loan Fund
What is it for?
- Grant loans to local crop farmers for agricultural production and development
Who can use it?
- Local crop farmers
Contact info:
36. Kadoorie Agriculture Aid Loan Fund
What is it for?
- Grant loans to individual farmers, pond fish operators and mariculturists for development and working capital
Who can use it?
- Individual farmers, pond fish operators and mariculturists
Contact info:
37. J.E. Joseph Trust Fund to grant loans
What is it for?
- Grant loans to farmers’ co-operative societies and individual farmers for use either as development or working capital
Who can use it?
- Farmers’ co-operative societies and individual farmers
Contact info:
38. Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund
What is it for?
- Help the local fishing community move towards sustainable or high value-added operations, assisting the trade to enhance its overall competitiveness and cope with new challenges
Who can use it?
- Company incorporated in Hong Kong having a close connection with the fisheries industry in Hong Kong
Contact info:
39. Construction Innovation and Technology Fund
What is it for?
- Provide funding support to enterprises and practitioners of the construction industry to wider adoption of innovative constructive methods and new technologies in the construction industry with a view to promoting productivity, uplifting built quality, improving site safety and enhancing environmental performance
Who can use it?
- Construction-related enterprises in Hong Kong
Contact info:
40. Chinese Medicine Development Fund (Enterprise Support Programme)
What is it for?
- Offers matching fund to practitioners and institutions to facilitate the development of Chinese Medicine Industry in Hong Kong
Who can use it?
- Licensed proprietary Chinese medicine manufacturers or proprietary Chinese medicine wholesalers under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549).
Contact info:
41. Trade and Industrial Organization Fund
What is it for?
- Provides financial support to non-profit-distributing organisations to implement projects which aim at enhancing the competitiveness of non-listed Hong Kong enterprises in general or in specific sectors
Who can use it?
- Non-profit-distributing organisations (such as trade and industrial organisations, professional bodies or research institutes)
Contact info:
42. Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme
What is it for?
- Support Hong Kong’s professional services sector to carry out worthwhile projects to spearhead pro-active outreaching promotion efforts and to improve service offerings
Who can use it?
- Non-profit-distributing organizations (such as trade and industrial organizations, professional bodies or research institutes)
Contact info:
43. General Support Programme (GSP)
What is it for?
- Support non-R&D projects that contribute to the upgrading and development of our industries as well as fostering an innovation and technology culture in Hong Kong
Who can use it?
- Local unincorporated or incorporated companies, non-profit making trade and industry organizations, public bodies, or universities or other tertiary/post-secondary institutes by statute
Contact info:
44. Pilot Scheme for Characteristic Local Tourism Events
What is it for?
- Provides marketing and promotional funding support for visitor-targeted events that are related to arts, culture, festivals, dining and sports, and embody characteristics that are uniquely Hong Kong, with the aims of diversifying the city’s tourism product offerings; attracting local and overseas media coverage; increasing visitor arrivals; and enhancing visitors’ travel experience in Hong Kong
Who can use it?
- Hong Kong-registered non-profit organizations (i.e. local bona-fide non-profit organizations, such as sports or non-governmental organizations, arts associations or chambers of commerce) that will host an arts, culture, dining or sports event or a festival in Hong Kong
Contact info:
45. Travel Industry Training Fund
What is it for?
- Enhance the industry’s service quality through subsidizing training activities organized by eligible training bodies
Who can use it?
- Non-profit-making and non-profit-distributing organizations, including training / education institutions, employer / employee associations or professional bodies in the travel industry
Contact info:
46. Recycling Fund (Industry Support Programme)
What is it for?
- Subsidizes non-profit making projects for enhancing the operational standards and productivity of the industry, including upgrading the skills and safety of incumbent and potential employees of the local recycling industry and / or expanding its potential workforce, as well as certification and accreditation of recycling operations, etc.
Who can use it?
- Non-profit-distributing organizations operating as support organizations, trade and industrial organizations, professional bodies or research institutes
Contact info:
47. Chinese Medicine Development Fund (Industry Support Programme)
What is it for?
- Support training programmes and courses, Chinese medicine promotional activities, and research and studies on Chinese medicine
Who can use it?
- Non-profit-making organizations, professional bodies, trade and academic associations and research institutions
Contact info:
