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The Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) is one of the funding programmes under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF). It is designed to provide funding support for local companies to conduct in house research and development (“R&D”) with a view to encouraging the private sector to invest in R&D. |
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Grant Summary
Grant Eligibility |
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A company will be eligible to apply if it –
Key Features
- is incorporated in Hong Kong;
- has a current business registration certificate;
- is not a government subvented organisation; and
- is not a subsidiary of any government subvented organisation
Key Features
- Provides on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis.
- Maximum Funding Support: HKD10 million per approved project.
- Maximum Project Duration: 24 months in general.
- Intellectual Property Rights Ownership: recipient company.
- Recoupment of Government's Contribution: NOT required.
- Benefit Sharing of Commercialised R&D Results: NOT mandatory.
Supportable Costs |
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Project funds, including the ESS Fund and the recipient company's matching fund, must be exclusively used for (a) the costs of manpower employed by the applicant specifically for carrying out the project’s technology R&D activities in Hong Kong and who are lawfully employable in Hong Kong; (b) new equipment procured specifically for carrying out the project; and (c) other direct costs incurred within the project period.
The R&D work funded under ESS should primarily be conducted within the territory of Hong Kong. When R&D tasks need to be conducted outside Hong Kong:
- prior approval from CIT must be sought with sufficient justifications
- outsourcing arrangements should be made
- up to 50% of the approved total project cost incurred outside Hong Kong may be allowed
The R&D work funded under ESS should primarily be conducted within the territory of Hong Kong. When R&D tasks need to be conducted outside Hong Kong:
- prior approval from CIT must be sought with sufficient justifications
- outsourcing arrangements should be made
- up to 50% of the approved total project cost incurred outside Hong Kong may be allowed
Support Level
Maximum Funding Support: HKD10 million per approved project.
Important Things To Note
What is the application procedure? What documents are required? |
What are the vetting criteria? |
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The ESS Secretariat will send an acknowledgment to the Applicant upon receipt of the application. The application will be screened to ensure that the Applicant meets the eligibility requirements and the Application Form is duly completed and the requisite supporting documents are submitted, etc.
The checked Application Form and appended documentation will be submitted to the ESS Assessment Panel for consideration. The Panel will consider and make recommendation to the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (CIT) on whether the application should be supported. In the event that the application is recommended for funding support, the Panel will require the Applicant to address its comments on the application (e.g. scope, budget and milestones, etc.). The finalised Application Form together with other necessary documents as requested by the Secretariat should be submitted within three months from the date of notification, to seek CIT's approval for funding. Where an application is approved, the Applicant shall enter into a fund agreement with the Government and is required to comply with the terms and conditions therein, including report of project progress and expenditure, submission of reports and audited accounts, etc. The Applicant should submit a copy of the following as attachment(s) with the application – (a) Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Companies Registry; (b) a valid Business Registration Certificate; (c) latest Annual Return (or the Incorporation Form for newly established company); (d) Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director (Appointment/Cessation) (if any); (e) Notice or Certificate of Change of Company Name (if any); and (f) organisation chart of the Applicant's company (and its company group, if any) as proof of its company's conformity with the eligibility criteria of the ESS. To effectively present the merits of the proposed project, the Applicant shall submit the information and other supporting documents as requested in the ESS Guide to Filling in the Application Form and the notes provided in the Application Form. |
The Applicant and its application will be considered by an assessment panel comprising independent experts in the innovation and technology sector and will be assessed in accordance with the following criteria and weightings –
How long will the application process take?An Applicant could normally be notified of the vetting result in around 2 months upon submission of all the required information and documents. In the event that the Project is recommended for funding support by the Assessment Panel, the applicant is required to, within three months, revise the proposal to address the relevant comments and submit supplementary information along with the supporting documents before signing the fund agreement.
May I apply for other funding schemes other than ESS for the same project proposal?It should be noted that any expenditure or part thereof which is already funded by the Government (including but not limited to any other ITF funded project), a government subvented body/institution or a university shall not be covered by the project funds under ESS. For the avoidance of doubt, no double funding is allowed for the same expenditure item or any part thereof
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FAQ
My business needs money for operation and expansion, is ESS the right funding programme for me?
ESS supports downstream R&D activity with focuses on commercial application and viability of project deliverables. It will NOT support mass production activities, general business operations such as improvement of production/operational process (e.g. facility revamp, investment on equipment, automation facilities, information technology related infrastructures or R&D facilities), general business financing or staff training.
How often does the assessment panel meet to consider applications?
Generally speaking, assessment panel meetings will be held around every six weeks to two months to consider designated track applications (please see relevant FAQs above) by SMEs while for non designated track applications, meetings will be held around every three to four months.
If my application is not recommended by the ESS Assessment Panel for funding support, will ITC dispose the records immediately?
All ESS applications, irrespective of their application status or result of assessment, must be retained for a certain period of time to comply with the established records management guidelines of ITC.
Would my application be considered unfavourably if the R&D is at its early stage?
ESS is to encourage private sector to undertake applied R&D. Any R&D project that would lead to a commercially viable product or has a potential commercial value will be considered more favourably by the assessment panel, in addition to the merits of the project's innovation and technology content.
Next Steps |
Find out how our grant consultants can help your company secure the grant here.
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