What is GSP?

GSP supports those projects that contribute to fostering an innovation and technology culture in Hong Kong, and those that will be beneficial to the upgrading and future development of our industries. There are two sub-programmes under the GSP. The Patent Application Grant provides funding support to assist local companies and individuals to apply for patents of their own inventions. The Internship Programme supports universities with projects funded under the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP) or the Matching Grant for Joint Research Scheme (UIM) of the University-Industry Collaboration Programme (UICP) to recruit interns to assist in the projects.

Is my organization eligible to apply?

Universities, industry support organizations, trade and industry associations, professional bodies and research institutes (either locally incorporated or established under the statute of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) are eligible to apply. The principal applicant organization should be a company incorporated in Hong Kong under Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) and have substantial connection to Hong Kong OR a body corporate incorporated in Hong Kong under other ordinances of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

What kind of projects will likely be supported under GSP?

Projects to be supported may include studies, surveys, conferences, exhibitions, seminars, promotional and training programmes etc. The GSP will not support projects for technology/product development which should seek funding support under the other funding programmes under the ITF. A Patent Application Grant was established as a sub-programme under the GSP to encourage local companies and individual inventors to capitalize on their intellectual work through patent registration. All projects will go through a vetting mechanism supported by a vetting committee. Funding priority will be given to those projects that can contribute substantially to innovation and technology upgrading in industry and those that have demonstrated strong support from the relevant industry (e.g. applications that have substantial sponsorship in the form of cash and/or sponsorship from potential users of the project deliverables). Projects with less than two sponsors may be considered but will be accorded a lower priority in funding.

Can my organization own the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the project results?

The recipient organization will solely own all intellectual property rights arising from the project and is required to make available to local companies the project results through workshops, seminars, publications, etc. The general principle is that all interested local companies should have equal access to the project results on equal terms. The sponsors can have priority use of the project results.

What is the form of funding support?

Funding support is normally given as a grant (up to 90% of the total approved project cost). All ITF grants will be disbursed by instalments to the approved projects. ITF grants may be used for meeting the manpower, equipment and other direct costs specifically required for the conduct of the project. For projects involving recurrent expenditures, the applicant organization has to demonstrate that such expenses will be of a specified finite duration or that the project will become self-financing after the completion of the project. All projects normally require sponsorship from more than one private firm not related to the applicant organization in terms of ownership or management. Such sponsorship can either be in cash or in kind, but should normally cover not less than 10% of the total project cost.

How can my organization apply for funding?

Your organization can obtain the application form through the webpage on application forms. At this webpage, you will be required to register your organization and then its relevant personnel with the Innovation and Technology Commission Funding Administrative System. The registered personnel will be responsible for submitting the application proposal through this system.

Is there any application deadline?

Applications can be submitted throughout the year. It is expected that applications received on or before 30 September 2008 will be considered by the General Support Programme Vetting Committee in October/November 2008.

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2002 Important Notices	Last revision date: 1 April 2008