Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (MHKTCFS)
Objective
The Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (MHKTCFS) aims to encourage research and development (R&D) collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Eligibility
The lead applicant must be an R&D Centre1 or a designated local public research institute2. The industry co-applicant for collaborative projects can be either a company already incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622); or an established industry support organisation, a trade and industry association or professional body which has the legal capacity to enter into contracts.
Key Features
- Support platform and collaborative R&D projects with an element of Mainland and Hong Kong cooperation.
- Three categories of projects under MHKTCFS are as follows:
- Projects jointly funded by Mainland and Hong Kong (jointly solicited with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)).
- Projects jointly funded by Guangdong and Hong Kong (jointly solicited with the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province); and
- Projects jointly funded by Shenzhen and Hong Kong (jointly solicited with the Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality).
- R&D work of the projects must be conducted in both the Mainland and Hong Kong.
- Maximum Project Duration: 24 months.
- Industry Sponsorship: at least 10% of the total project cost for platform projects; at least 50% of the total project cost for collaborative projects.
- Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Ownership: lead applicant for platform projects; industry co-applicant for collaborative projects if it contributes at least 50% of the total project cost.
- ITC and MOST/the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province/the Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality will provide funding to the Hong Kong and Mainland applicant organisations respectively, and will monitor project progress according to their own requirements.
Application
MHKTCFS invites applications for funding once a year. The application period for projects jointly funded by Guangdong / Shenzhen and Hong Kong in 2025 is 23 June 2025 to 22 August 2025 while the application period of projects jointly funded by Mainland and Hong Kong will be announced in due course. All applications must be submitted simultaneously by the Hong Kong and Mainland applicant organisations to ITC and MOST/the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province/the Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality respectively. Unilateral submission will not be accepted.
Only project proposals with the specific themes/topics (listed in the Annex of the Guide to Filling in the MHKTCFS Application Form) will be accepted.
- Guide to Filling in the Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme Application Forms (Chinese Version Only)
- Funding and Administrative Guidelines for Successful Applicants (Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme)
- Guide on Intellectual Property Arrangements for Research and Development Projects funded under the Innovation and Technology Fund
Frequently Asked Questions
To encourage R&D collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in the Mainland and Hong Kong, the Government of the HKSAR joined hands with MOST and the Government of Guangdong Province to launch the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme in 2019 and Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme in 2004 respectively. The schemes were merged to facilitate research institutes and participating companies in submitting funding application.
MHKTCFS provides funding support for both platform and collaborative R&D projects. All projects have to demonstrate an element of Mainland and Hong Kong cooperation (e.g. R&D collaboration between organisations and companies in the Mainland and Hong Kong).
Platform projects refer to applied R&D projects that are industry-oriented and have potential for commercialisation. The projects must be undertaken by R&D Centres1 or designated local public research institutes2. All platform projects require industry sponsorship from at least one company to cover at least 10% of the total project cost within the project period. The IP rights generated from the projects will be owned by the lead applicants.
Collaborative projects refer to R&D projects undertaken by R&D Centres1 or designated local public research institutes2 in collaboration with industry co-applicants. The industry co-applicant should contribute, in the form of industry sponsorship, at least 50% of the total project cost if it wishes to own the IP rights generated from the project.
For Mainland partner in projects jointly funded by Mainland and Hong Kong, please refer to the Guide (in Chinese) issued by the MOST.
For Mainland partner in projects jointly funded by Guangdong and Hong Kong, please refer to the Guide (in Chinese) issued by the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province.
For Mainland partner in projects jointly funded by Shenzhen and Hong Kong, please refer to the Guide (in Chinese) issued by the Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.
The right of final decision on the eligibility of the Mainland partner lies with the relevant Mainland authorities.
The applications will be processed and vetted by ITC and Mainland authorities separately. Only applications supported by both sides will be funded.
Others
All applications should be completed in Chinese. In submitting an application, the lead applicant should also include detailed description of the research contents responsible by the Hong Kong side, as well as the respective responsibilities and activities of and key information on the Mainland partner (including participating organisation) in the project. The lead applicant, however, does not need to enclose the respective application prepared by the Mainland partner and submitted to MOST/the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province/the Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. Vetting conducted in Hong Kong will be mainly based on the research contents described in the Hong Kong application form.
- Tel: (852) 3655 5678
- Fax: (852) 2957 8726
- Email: enquiry@itf.gov.hk