What is TVP?
TVP aims to subsidise non-listed local enterprises/organisations in using technological services and solutions to improve productivity, or upgrade or transform their business processes.
Since 1 April 2020, the Government has further enhanced the TVP. The Government’s funding ratio in each approved project has been raised from two-thirds to three-quarters. The funding ceiling per applicant has been increased from $400,000 to $600,000 and the maximum number of approved projects has also been increased from four to six. (Attention: The above measures are only applicable to applications received on or after 1 April 2020. Applicants with applications submitted before the above date but wishing to apply for a higher funding amount through the enhancement measures should withdraw the original application in the TVP Funding Administrative System (https://tvp.itf.gov.hk) and submit a new one on or after 1 April.)
To learn more about TVP, please see TVP FAQ.
For information of approved TVP projects, please see the List of Approved TVP Projects.
Pamphlet, Guides and Application Form
Video of Case Sharing by Successful Applicant
* Since 1 April 2020, the funding ceiling per applicant has been increased to $600,000.
Who are eligible to apply?
Local entities (except listed enterprises) fulfilling the following requirements are eligible to apply for funding under the TVP:
| | (a)(i) | Registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310); or |
| | (a)(ii) | Incorporated and registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622); or |
| | (a)(iii) | Established in Hong Kong by relevant ordinances as statutory bodies;
AND
|
| | (b) | Not a government subvented organisation* or subsidiary of any government subvented organisation*;
AND
|
| | (c) | With substantive business operation in Hong Kong which is related to the project under application at the time of application. |
*Government subvented organisation means organisation that receives subvention from the Government on a recurrent basis. The subvention contributes towards the organisation's operational expenses, in exchange for its service to the public. The recurrent subvention may account for the bulk of the organisation's income or may just be a token contribution/sponsorship forming a small percentage of the organisation's total income.
What kind of projects will be funded by TVP?
TVP supports projects in the form of technological services and solutions which could improve productivity, or upgrade or transform the business processes of the applicant. A list of typical technological services and/or solutions covered by TVP is at Annex B of the Guidance Notes for Applications. Applicants are welcome to propose other technological services and solutions which could achieve the objectives of TVP. We shall consider the merits of such applications on a case-by-case basis. For funding support under TVP, prior approval must be obtained before project commencement. The project deliverables should be used in a way that would have direct impact on the applicant’s business operation in Hong Kong.
How can I use the funds from TVP?
The approved funding from TVP can be used to cover the following:
- Technology Consultancy – the applicant may engage a technology consultant to provide external consultancy for conducting the project under application. The consultant must be a local university or research institution, or a company registered in Hong Kong under the BRO.
- Purchase, rental or subscription of customised equipment/hardware, software and technological services or solutions that form an essential part of the project.
- Purchase, rental or subscription of off-the-shelf/readily available equipment/hardware, software and technological services or solutions that form an essential part of the project. In general, the costs of such equipment/ hardware/ software/ services or solutions should constitute no more than 50% of the project cost.
- Project auditing for projects with approved funding exceeding $50,000. The maximum audit fee to be counted towards the total project cost is $3,000.
Normal business operating costs will not be funded under TVP.
What is the funding amount?
Funding up to $600,000 for each eligible applicant will be provided on a 3 (Government):1 (enterprise/organisation) matching basis. The applicant must contribute no less than one quarter of the total approved project cost in cash. In other words, funding of no more than three-quarters of the actual project cost will be provided to an applicant.
Subject to the cumulative funding ceiling of $600,000, up to six projects from an applicant may be approved. To ensure proper focus on project implementation, an applicant is not allowed to undertake more than one TVP project at the same time. Expenditure items under an approved TVP project shall not receive funding support from other local public funding sources.
Is there any restriction on the project duration?
Each project should normally be completed within 12 months.
What is the vetting mechanism ?
Upon receipt of an application, ITC will check its eligibility and conduct a preliminary screening. ITC may also seek clarification or supplementary information from the applicant if necessary. Eligible applications will be considered by the TVP Committee while ineligible applications will be returned to the applicant. Applications supported by the Committee will be submitted to the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (CIT) for approval of funding.
What are the vetting criteria ?
Each eligible application will be assessed based on individual merits and considered on a case-by-case basis. The assessment criteria include –
- relevance of the proposed project to the applicant’s business – the project should have good prospects of enhancing its competitiveness through improving productivity, cost reduction or efficiency enhancement, upgrading/improving/ transforming business processes.
- reasonableness of the budget – assessment with reference to market prices of the technologies in question as known to the TVP Committee or ITC will be made. Individual items of expenditure must also be essential and directly related to the implementation of the project.
- reasonableness of the implementation details – consideration may include whether concrete project deliverables and outcomes have been set. The implementation details should also be realistic taking into account factors such as the complexity of the technology and the project duration.
- adverse record of consultants and/or service provider(s) as known to the TVP Committee and ITC if available.
How to apply for funding?
An entity should register as a user and submit its application through the Technology Voucher Programme Funding Administrative System (https://tvp.itf.gov.hk). Applicants may approach the TVP Secretariat for assistance if they encounter difficulties in submitting applications through the TVP website.
Is there any application deadline?
TVP is open for application throughout the year.
For more information, email to info@solutionone.hk