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Government funding

TSSSU university tech start-up funding

Tech start-up funding for teams linked to the six UGC-funded universities (CityU / HKBU / CUHK / PolyU / HKUST / HKU): up to HK$1.5M per start-up per year, for up to 3 years. You apply through your university's technology transfer office, which forwards it to ITC — you can't apply directly, and reimbursement-on-actuals means you front the cash.

This fits you if

Your tech start-up team includes a current student / postgraduate / alumnus / staff member of one of the six UGC universities, and you want funding to launch or scale.

This is not for you if

Your team has no link to the six universities (see HKSTP / Cyberport); or it's not a tech business (see BUD).

Key figures
Funding
Up to HK$1.5M per company per year, for up to 3 years[S33]
Who it's for
Teams linked to the six UGC universities[S33]
Company age
TSSSU-O ≤2 years / TSSSU+ ≤7 years[S33]
ITC / Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) (via the university)Annual
Up to HK$1.5M per start-up per year, for up to 3 years (per-university cap of about HK$12.8M for 2026-27)Match: TSSSU-O: full funding; TSSSU+: 1:1 matching (you must raise an equal amount of private investment)
Deadline / window
Annual — submitted via your university's technology transfer office, with each university setting its own deadline
Duration
Up to 3 years per company
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)
Documents
  • Application form + business plan, submitted to your university's technology transfer office (each university sets its own forms / guidelines)
Official pageHow to apply

Two tracks

Both offer up to HK$1.5M per company per year for up to 3 years; they differ on company age and whether matching private investment is required.

TSSSU-O (base track)
Company incorporated ≤2 years; fully funded, no matching required.
TSSSU+ (matching track)
Company incorporated ≤7 years; you must raise an equal amount of private investment (1:1 matching), unlocking a longer growth runway.

What can it cover?

Necessary start-up and operating costs: furniture and equipment, legal and accounting services, rent, staff, R&D, and promotion and marketing. Reimbursed on actuals after the financial year, with up to 25% available as an advance.

How to apply
  1. 1

    Contact your university's technology transfer office

    You can't apply to ITC directly for TSSSU — it must go through the knowledge / technology transfer office of one of the six universities.

    Pitfall: Going to ITC to apply directly — the wrong door.

  2. 2

    Prepare materials to the university's deadline

    Each university sets its own forms, guidelines and deadlines; prepare a business plan.

    Pitfall: Schedules differ by university; miss the internal deadline and you wait for next year.

  3. 3

    University review → forwarded to ITC

    The university assesses and forwards it; TSSSU+ requires proof of matching private investment.

    Pitfall: Choosing TSSSU+ but unable to produce the matching investment — ineligible.

  4. 4

    Approved → reimbursed on actuals (25% advance available)

    Reimbursed against actual spending after the financial year.

    Pitfall: Reimbursement-on-actuals means fronting the cash; without cash-flow planning it gets tight.

Next steps
  1. 01Have a university link → contact your university's technology transfer office first for this year's deadline and forms.
  2. 02Incorporated ≤2 years and want full funding → go TSSSU-O; ≤7 years with private investment → go TSSSU+.
  3. 03No university link → look instead at HKSTP / Cyberport seed and incubation.
Related pagesGovernment funding overview: which one should you apply for?HKSTP Incubation ProgrammeCyberport Incubation Programme (CIP)Your first year in Hong Kong · Tech founders

Each university publishes its own deadlines, forms and required documents; turnover / employees are not scheme thresholds. Amounts follow the latest official figures.

Sources