Public Sector Trial Scheme -
Special Call for Projects for the Prevention and Control of
Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) in Hong Kong (PSTS-COVID-19)
(application already ceased)

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Objective

To tackle the public health crisis caused by the COVID-19, this special PSTS-COVID-19 was launched in March-April 2020 to support application of technologies in combatting the epidemic in Hong Kong. The scheme covers production of prototypes/samples and/or conducting of trials in the local public sector of R&D outcomes which are ready immediately for trial to help Hong Kong combat the COVID-19 epidemic.

Eligibility

The applicant should be an R&D Centre¹, a designated local public research institute², or a technology company incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) or registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) which is conducting R&D activities in Hong Kong. The technology company must not be a government subvented organisation or a subsidiary of any government subvented organisation.

The R&D outcomes for trial need to be owned by the applicant company and developed by the applicant company primarily in Hong Kong. The R&D outcomes must also be immediately ready for trial to help combat the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong, including those relating to detection/diagnosis/surveillance of the virus/disease, reduction of the risk of infection and spread of the virus, etc. The project should aim to facilitate the development of new products not already available in the market, and should employ R&D results/deliverables owned and developed by the applicant itself.

Key Features

• Maximum Funding Support: $2 million per project (exceptional approval for a higher funding ceiling may be granted if fully justified).
• Maximum Project Duration: 12 months (priority would be given to those projects that can be completed within a shorter time frame in order to bring anti-epidemic benefits to the community in the near future).
• Deployment of samples/prototypes and conducting of trials are generally confined to the local public sector which includes Government bureaux and departments, statutory bodies and/or HKSAR Government subvented non-governmental bodies in the welfare sector.

Application

PSTS-COVID-19 was launched on 9 March 2020. The one-month application period was closed on 10 April 2020.

Assessment

Upon receipt of an application, the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) will check the applicant"s eligibility. Ineligible applications will be returned to the applicant companies. ITC will consider all information and supporting documents provided by the applicant company in assessing an application. All applications would be vetted based on their individual merits. Please refer to the "Guide to Filling in the Application Form for Public Sector Trial Scheme for the Prevention and Control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong" for the major vetting criteria for PSTS-COVID-19 applications.