The Innovation and Technology Commission today (March 27) announced the enhanced funding and administrative arrangements for the Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme and the Patent Application Grant with a view to easing the capital funding problems of enterprises in staff training and individuals or enterprises in applying for patents. In addition, the funding scope of the Public Sector Trial Scheme will be extended to all technology companies conducting research and development (R&D) activities in Hong Kong. 
 
Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme
 
     Under the new arrangement, the Commission will disburse 50 per cent of the approved training grant before the completion of training courses to the funding recipient enterprises upon request. The new arrangement will be applicable to applications received from March 30 onwards.
 
     The Programme subsidises staff of local enterprises on a 2(Government):1(Enterprise) matching basis to receive technology training, especially those related to "Industry 4.0". The funding ceiling for each eligible enterprise in each financial year is $500,000. The Vocational Training Council is the Secretariat that administers the Programme.
 
Patent Application Grant
 
     From April 1, applicants will no longer be required to pay a $3,000 deposit at the time of application. After the application is approved, applicants will not be required to pay in full immediately their required contribution to the cost of patent registration. In addition, the Government will, based on the first quotation for the patent registration fee provided by the patent agent appointed by the applicant, disburse an advance payment of 25 per cent of the Government’s contribution (i.e. 90 per cent of the quotation) to the patent agent. Currently, applicants are required to pay administrative fees to the implementation agent of the Grant (i.e. the Hong Kong Productivity Council). Under the enhanced administrative arrangements, applicants will no longer be required to pay administrative fees, and the approved funding can be utilised in full for expenses related to the patent registration.
 
     The Grant aims to subsidise locally incorporated companies and Hong Kong permanent residents which/who have neither owned any patent nor received funding from the Grant before to apply for patents for their own inventions. The maximum grant is $250,000 or 90 per cent of the cost of the patent application, whichever is the lower.
 
Public Sector Trial Scheme
 
     From March 30, the funding scope of the Scheme will be extended to all technology companies conducting R&D activities in Hong Kong. Eligible companies are welcome to apply. 
 
     At present, the Scheme provides funding support for the production of prototypes or samples and conducting of trials in public sector organisations of the R&D outcomes by organisations or companies conducting R&D projects which are funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund, as well as incubatees and graduate tenants of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited. The enhanced Scheme will assist more local technology companies in realising and commercialising their R&D outcomes and encourage public sector organisations to utilise more local R&D outcomes. 
 
     The maximum funding for each application is $1 million. Application is open all year round. 
 
     The Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme, the Patent Application Grant and the Public Sector Trial Scheme are funding schemes under the Innovation and Technology Fund. Details are available on the websites of the schemes. The websites and enquiry channels are as follows:
 
Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme
Website: rttp.vtc.edu.hk
Email: rttp@vtc.edu.hk (Vocational Training Council)
 
Patent Application Grant
Website: www.itc.gov.hk/en/fund_app/patent_app_grant.html
Email: ipsc@hkpc.org (Hong Kong Productivity Council)/enquiry@itf.gov.hk (Innovation and Technology Fund Secretariat)
 
Public Sector Trial Scheme
Website: www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/PSTS.asp
Email: enquiry@itf.gov.hk (Innovation and Technology Fund Secretariat)

Ends/Friday, March 27, 2020
Issued at HKT 12:10

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