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Government funding

Government funding overview: which one should you apply for?

Hong Kong has plenty of government funding, but once you sort it by type and stage it becomes clear: to expand into the mainland or overseas markets, look at BUD; for early-stage tech, HKSTP Ideation / Cyberport CCMF (about HK$100K each); for incubation, HKSTP Incubation / Cyberport CIP (in life & health / AI and willing to move into the Loop park, also see HSITP's SPIN·IGNITE·GAS, up to HK$6M); for university-linked teams, TSSSU (early) / RAISe+ (commercialisation, up to HK$100M per project); for a company's in-house R&D, ESS (up to HK$10M per project, 1:1 matching); to set up a smart production line / manufacture in Hong Kong, the New Industrialisation schemes NIAS / NIFS; for government VC co-investment, ITVF / ITIF; to borrow, the SFGS loan guarantee. Use the three-step decision tree below to place yourself, then open the deep page. Note: TVP no longer takes new applications.

This fits you if

You want government funding but feel lost in the maze of scheme names, and want to quickly figure out which one to look at first.

This is not for you if

You already know exactly which scheme you're applying for — go straight to its deep page (e.g. BUD) instead of lingering on the overview.

Key figures
Market expansion
Up to HK$7M cumulative

BUD, 50:50 matching[S34]

Cyberport CIP
Up to HK$500K + up to HK$200K rent subsidy over 24 months[S32]
TSSSU (university-linked)
Up to HK$1.5M per company per year, for up to 3 years[S33]

What do you want the funding for?

Compare schemes

Funding schemes side by side

Compare amount, deadline and thresholds (company age / turnover / employees — only the ones a scheme sets are shown) on one ruler; tap a scheme for its deep page. '—' = not applicable.

BUD Fund
TID (administered by HKPC)
Up to HK$7M cumulative per companyHK$1M cap per project
Deadline / window
Year-roundAccepted year-round
Company age
In practice, incorporated for at least 1 year
Turnover
Prior-year turnover ≥HK$3M is safer (≥HK$1M may be considered)
Employees
≥2 employees with 3 months of MPF contributions
For whom
Non-listed Hong Kong companies with real operations in HK; expanding into mainland / ASEAN / FTA markets
Up to HK$200Kup to 75% of each activity's cost
Deadline / window
Year-roundSupport runs up to 24 months from the first related activity; you must first be a CCMF / CIP company or graduate
Company age
Must be a CIP / CCMF incubatee / grantee or graduate, applying within 5 years of completion; individual CCMF grantees must first set up a HK limited company with a valid BR
Turnover
Total funds raised below US$10M as at the date of the reimbursement claim
For whom
Substantive tech-sector operations in Hong Kong (evidenced by business records, tax assessment, MPF records, etc.)
Up to HK$100K3 tranches: HK$10K on signing + HK$45K on interim report + HK$45K on prototype & completion report
Deadline / window
By cohortHK Programme 2026 deadlines: 3 Aug, 1 Dec (1 Apr passed)
Company age
Individual: main applicant holds a HK resident ID card and is 18+ on or before the deadline; or company: a HK-registered (or in the process of being registered) limited company
For whom
High-potential digital-tech innovation concepts, or early-stage start-ups with a prototype / MVP
HKSTP Ideation Programme
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)
Seed grant up to HK$100Kdisbursed in 3 milestone tranches
Deadline / window
By cohortBy cohort — opens around January, May, and September each year
Company age
Individuals must hold a HK ID card and be 18+; companies must be HK limited companies under 2 years old (a HK company must be set up within 2 weeks of approval)
For whom
Very early / pre-seed innovative ideas with real R&D content; individuals / teams / companies under 2 years old
HSITP SPIN Startup Programme
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP)
Seed funding up to HK$150K, disbursed in two instalmentsassessed against 6-monthly milestones
Deadline / window
AnnualOne intake per year; the last round (2025 cycle) closed 2025-12-30; next round to be announced
Company age
Hong Kong-registered private company under 2 years old; team applicants must register as an HK company within 2 weeks of acceptance; founders holding ≥51% combined
For whom
Innovative ideas / early-stage teams in life & health tech or AI & data science; must move into (or commit to moving into) the HSITP; may not join another incubation programme at the same time
Up to HK$300Kaccelerator fees + office rent + interns + travel + marketing + professional services
Deadline / window
Year-roundYou must first be admitted to a recognised accelerator; apply upon admission (the joint accelerators have their own intake windows, e.g. CDD-JAP 2025-12-22 to 2026-01-15)
Company age
A company currently in, or graduated from, the Cyberport Incubation Programme
For whom
Admitted to a programme on Cyberport's recognised-accelerator list (updated 2025-04)
Up to HK$500K in funding + up to HK$200K in on-site rent subsidy
Deadline / window
By cohortApplications accepted year-round but processed in batches. 2026 deadlines: 1 Apr (passed), 3 Aug, 1 Dec, with results about 2 months after
Company age
A HK-registered digital-tech limited company under 7 years old (or with registration in progress); founders holding ≥51% combined; at least 1 local authorised representative working from a physical office in Hong Kong
For whom
Digital-tech start-ups with a viable business plan and a product that can reach market within 12–18 months
HKSTP Incubation Programme
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP)
Varies by stream: Incu-Tech ~HK$1.29M · Incu-App ~HK$860K · Incu-Bio up to HK$6M~HK$4M funding + HK$2M clinical/regulatory
Deadline / window
By cohortBy cohort (each stream assessed separately)
Company age
Hong Kong company under 2 years old (or a wholly-owned HK subsidiary of a non-local parent under 3 years old); founders holding ≥51% combined
For whom
Incu-Tech for hard/deep-tech R&D · Incu-App for applied innovation · Incu-Bio for biomedical translation
HSITP GAS Expansion Acceleration Grant
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP)
Life & health tech up to HK$6M(4 years) · AI & data science up to HK$3M (3 years)
Deadline / window
AnnualOne intake per year; the last round (2025 cycle) closed 2025-12-30; next round to be announced
Company age
Hong Kong-registered private company under 10 years old; founders holding ≥51% combined
Employees
≥2 full-time staff; ≥50% of on-site staff in tech R&D
For whom
High-growth life & health tech / AI & data science start-ups; must be an IGNITE participant / current park tenant / or commit to residency at the Loop park within 6 months of acceptance; R&D and administration must be carried out in Hong Kong
HSITP IGNITE Enterprise Programme
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP)
Life & health tech up to HK$6M(4 years) · AI & data science up to HK$1M (2 years)
Deadline / window
AnnualOne intake per year; the last round (2025 cycle) closed 2025-12-30; next round to be announced
Company age
Hong Kong-registered private company under 5 years old; founders holding ≥51% combined
Employees
≥2 full-time staff; ≥50% of on-site staff in tech R&D
For whom
Life & health tech / AI & data science, commercialising R&D outputs; take up residency at the HSITP within 6 months of acceptance
ESS Enterprise Support Scheme
ITC / Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF)
Up to HK$10M per approved project
Deadline / window
Year-roundApplications accepted year-round with no fixed deadline — submitted via ITC's Fund Management System (ITCFAS)
For whom
Private companies incorporated in Hong Kong holding a valid business registration certificate; and not a government-funded institution nor a subsidiary of any government-funded institution
FTRSS — Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme
Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC)
About HK$100M–300M per project
Deadline / window
Closing soonThe first round closed on 25 November 2025; ITC may open more than one round depending on response and available funding, with later rounds to be announced
For whom
The main applicant must be a UGC-funded university; joint applications by UGC universities, research institutions and other bodies are allowed, but must be led by a UGC university
RAISe+ Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme
ITC (submitted by the UGC-funded universities on behalf of research teams)
HK$10billion pot; HK$10M–100M matching grant per project
Deadline / window
AnnualAnnual — a round opens around September–October each year. Round three closed on 2025-10-31 (window 2025-09-11 to 2025-10-31); the next round (round four) has no announced dates
For whom
R&D teams at the eight UGC-funded universities (with potential to commercialise into a start-up); each university may submit up to 15 applications per round; ≥70% of IP returns go to the research team
TSSSU university tech start-up funding
ITC / Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) (via the university)
Up to HK$1.5M per start-up per year, for up to 3 yearsper-university cap of about HK$12.8M for 2026-27
Deadline / window
AnnualAnnual — submitted via your university's technology transfer office, with each university setting its own deadline
Company age
TSSSU-O: incorporated ≤2 years / TSSSU+: incorporated ≤7 years
For whom
Tech start-up teams linked to the six UGC-funded universities (including current students / postgraduates / alumni / staff)
ITIF Innovation and Technology Industry Guidance Fund
ITC / New Industrialisation Development Office (under the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau)
HK$10billion government contribution (fund-of-funds); targeting sector sub-funds totalling ≥HK$40 billion; government contribution to any single sub-fund is capped at HK$1 billion and ≤25% of the sub-fund's size
Deadline / window
Closing soonThe fund-manager (GP) application closed on 2026-01-16 (Hong Kong time); strategic investors (≥HK$3 billion single-ticket) may still enquire via the New Industrialisation Development Office
For whom
For professional fund managers (GPs) and large strategic investors, not disbursed to companies directly; sub-funds are set up under the Limited Partnership Fund Ordinance across five sectors: health & biotech / AI & robotics / semiconductors & smart devices / digitalisation & industrial upgrading / future & sustainable development
ITVF Innovation and Technology Venture Fund
ITC / Innovation and Technology Venture Fund Corporation (ITVF Corporation)
Government matching capped at a cumulative HK$50M per investee companyeach investment matches the lower of 40% of the company's target round or HK$30M
Deadline / window
Year-roundNo fixed deadline — runs on a rolling basis. Start-ups must be brought in by a designated ITVF venture partner / fund manager, not by open direct application
Company age
Investee company incorporated ≤7 years, with substantive operations and management in Hong Kong
Employees
Fewer than 250 full-time employees
For whom
Local tech start-ups; focused on AI & data science / health & biotech / advanced manufacturing & new energy
NIAS — New Industry Acceleration Scheme
Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC)
Government funding cap of HK$200M per companyper-project cap is the lower of one-third of total project cost or HK$200M. Total project cost must be ≥HK$150M and the company's own investment must be ≥HK$100M
Deadline / window
Year-roundNo deadline; applications accepted on a rolling basis year-round; project period generally within 36 months
For whom
Companies registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) that are not government-subvented bodies or their subsidiaries; must commit to invest ≥HK$100M to build smart production facilities, focused on the three domains of life-and-health technology / AI and data science / advanced manufacturing and new energy
NIFS — New Industrialisation Funding Scheme
Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC)
Per-project cap is the lower of one-third of approved project expenditure or HK$15Ma company may run up to 3 projects at once, capped at HK$45M in total
Deadline / window
Year-roundNo deadline; applications accepted on a rolling basis year-round
For whom
Companies registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622); must set up a brand-new smart production line in Hong Kong (which must include smart-production elements such as IoT / AI-ML / automation / robotics / sensors / advanced data analytics); a funded line (of ≥HK$5M) cannot be relocated out of Hong Kong for 5 years (3 years if <HK$5M)
Up to HK$1M per trial project
Deadline / window
Year-roundYear-round rolling, no fixed deadline — submitted via ITC's Fund Management System (ITCFAS)
For whom
Tech companies registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance or Business Registration Ordinance; must conduct R&D in Hong Kong and not be a government-funded institution or its subsidiary; the R&D outcome to be trialled must be owned by the applicant, mainly developed in Hong Kong and consistent with its business plan
Salary allowance capped monthly by degree — bachelor's HK$20,000 / master's HK$23,000 / PhD HK$35,000; PhD research talent also gets a HK$10,000/month living allowancePhD tier reaches HK$45,000/month
Deadline / window
Year-roundYear-round rolling, no fixed deadline — submitted via ITC's Fund Management System (ITCFAS)
Employees
At most 4 funded research talents per company at any one time
For whom
Tech companies conducting or planning R&D in Hong Kong, with substantial operations there at the time of application, registered under the Companies Ordinance or Business Registration Ordinance; not a government-funded institution or its subsidiary. The research talent hired must hold a STEM-related bachelor's / master's / PhD from a local university, a joint local-overseas programme, or a recognised non-local institution
SFGS — SME Financing Guarantee Scheme
HKMC Insurance, part of the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC)
Up to HK$18M under the 80% guarantee product / up to HK$8M under the 90% guarantee productcombined cap HK$18M
Deadline / window
Year-roundYear-round — apply through a participating bank (the 80% product's application period has been extended to end of 2028-03)
Company age
The 80% product requires ≥1 year operating in Hong Kong; the 90% product has no minimum operating period
Turnover
The scheme itself sets no turnover or headcount threshold
For whom
Non-listed companies, sole proprietorships or partnerships operating in Hong Kong and registered under the Business Registration Ordinance; not money lenders or parties related to the lender
Up to 80% of total project cost, capped at HK$500K per project(in two tranches: 60% on approval, 40% on completion); up to 3 projects per company
Deadline / window
StoppedThe 2025 pilot round has ended — applications 2025-06-18 to 08-01, results published 2025-09-01, projects completed 2025-11-16, final reports due 2025-12-16; a new round's reopening is to be announced
Company age
Registered under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and already operating in HK before applying
For whom
One of: a tech firm / research body actively working on concrete blockchain-Web3.0 projects in HK or abroad, a company in a reputable HK incubation programme, or a new-business venture from an established tech firm; the project must be in a recognised Web3 category, target a specific HK industry challenge, and have a written collaboration agreement with an eligible sponsor
Up to HK$50,000the lower of 50% of project cost and HK$50,000
Deadline / window
StoppedBy cohort — this round closed on 2026-03-31, and as of 2026-07 the portal shows it closed (reopening to be verified)
Employees
Fewer than 50 full-time employees
For whom
SMEs in F&B, retail (excluding F&B), tourism, or personal services; registered under the Business Registration Ordinance; excludes listed, statutory, and subvented bodies

How to use this page

First use the decision tree above to narrow down to 1–2 schemes by purpose + stage, then use the comparison table below to weigh amounts, deadlines and thresholds side by side; tap a scheme name to open its deep page for the official vs. real-world thresholds, application steps and pitfalls. Don't apply broadly — picking the right one and seeing it through beats applying to a pile at once.

Want to browse every incubator / accelerator?

The decision tree above only points to the government's flagship schemes (HKSTP Incubation, Cyberport CIP). For a one-stop view of every incubator and accelerator in Hong Kong — beyond the official schemes, it also covers private accelerators such as AWS, Microsoft and Accenture's FinTech Innovation Lab, plus cross-border programmes — see the directory curated by InvestHK's StartmeupHK.

StartmeupHK incubation / acceleration directory[S95]
Curated by InvestHK: about 24–25 incubators / accelerators in Hong Kong, including Cyberport, HKSTP, AWS, Microsoft, Accenture's FinTech Innovation Lab and cross-border programmes; use it as a shortlist entry point, then check each scheme's own official thresholds. (The link follows your interface language.)
View official page

Large non-grant funds (equity / fund-of-funds / patient capital)

The funds below are not matching grants and aren't in the table above: they operate as equity investment, funds-of-funds or patient capital, and mostly aren't open applications. The ITF's flagship RAISe+ / ITVF / ITIF now each have their own deep page and are folded into the comparison table above.

Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC)[S73]
Wholly government-owned 'patient capital', initially HK$62B, with four portfolios (growth / Greater Bay Area / strategic tech / co-investment), investing in deep tech, biotech, new energy and green tech; not an open application — it co-invests alongside market funds / partners.
View official page
Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF)[S76]
Cyberport's own HK$400M venture fund, providing seed-to-Series-A (or later) financing of HK$1M–20M to Cyberport digital-tech founders; you must be a Cyberport incubatee / graduate of another Cyberport programme / Smart-Space company / office tenant, approved by the fund committee (equity investment, not a matching grant). Enquiries cmf_enquiry@cyberport.hk.
View official page

Other ITF schemes (specialised / narrow-audience, listed for completeness)

To map the ITF landscape completely, the schemes below are listed too — they target accelerator operators, R&D institutions or event organisers rather than being channels an ordinary founder applies to directly.

Pilot Innovation and Technology Accelerator Scheme (PITAS)[S91]
Run by ITC through the ITF; it funds accelerator operators / start-up service providers (not start-ups themselves), HK$180M in total, up to HK$30M each, 1:2 matching, projects up to 3 years; applications closed 2026-04-30 and are under assessment. Start-ups are the ones 'accelerated', gaining space / mentors / matching via a funded accelerator later.
View official page
Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP)[S92]
Run by ITC through the ITF; the main applicant must be an R&D centre / designated local public research institution, with companies only able to act as an industry sponsor / matching party, not the lead applicant; platform and seed by round, collaborative projects year-round.
View official page
Mainland–Hong Kong Science and Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (TCFS)[S93]
Run by ITC jointly with the national MOST / Guangdong / Shenzhen; cross-border research collaboration whose main applicant must be an R&D centre / designated local public research institution; projects up to 24 months; the 2025 windows across tracks have all passed and the funding ceiling is pending verification.
View official page
General Support Programme (GSP)[S94]
Run by ITC through the ITF; it funds non-R&D innovation-culture activities (conferences / exhibitions / seminars / youth STEM / promotion) for chambers / associations / NPOs / universities rather than companies building products; accepted year-round with 3 deadline batches (28 Feb, 30 Jun, 31 Oct) and applicants self-funding ≥10%.
View official page
What the official sites won't tell you

  • Government schemes ≠ free money· First-hand insight in the works

    You pay your matching share, most is reimbursed later so you front the cash, and sign-off needs an evidence trail — all of it costs real money and time

  • Don't rush to apply the moment you land· First-hand insight in the works

    Get your product and lighthouse customer clear first; funding is a boost, not the goal — chasing the wrong scheme just distracts you

  • Picking the right one beats applying to many· First-hand insight in the works

    Every scheme needs paperwork, execution and sign-off; spread thin across several, you often come away with nothing

  • TVP has stopped — don't be conned by agents· First-hand insight in the works

    TVP stopped taking new applications on 2024-12-31; agents still tout 'TVP filing' services — don't believe them

Next steps
  1. 01Use the decision tree to place yourself → narrow to 1–2 schemes before going deeper.
  2. 02Expanding into the mainland / overseas → go straight to the BUD deep page and self-check the hard thresholds.
  3. 03Not sure → book SME ReachOut (free) to help match you to the right scheme.
Related pagesBUD FundYour first year in Hong Kong · Tech foundersTurn banks into your customersIncorporate a Hong Kong company

Amounts / terms / eligibility for each scheme change with policy; the figures here are ballpark — check the latest official page before applying.

Sources