Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU)
Objective
Launched in 2014, TSSSU provides funding to six universities8 to support their teams in starting technology businesses and commercialising their research and development (R&D) results.
Eligibility
A technology start-up will be eligible to apply if –
- it is registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance for not more than two years as of the date of the application deadline9; and
- the team forming the start-up may have any mix of the students and professors of the university –
- undergraduates, postgraduates or alumni; and/or
- professor(s) serving as consultant(s) providing technical expertise and direction of the R&D.
Key Features
- Maximum funding support: an annual funding of up to $8 million is provided to each of the six universities. Each funded technology start-up may receive up to $1.5 million each year for no more than three years10.
- Scope of funding: essential items for setting up and operating the start-ups (e.g. furniture and equipment, legal and accounting services, rental of necessary and suitable premises, manpower, etc.), expenditure on R&D, promotion activities and marketing of their R&D deliverables, products or services.
- Provision of funding: funding is provided to the universities on a reimbursement basis after the close of each Government financial year.
- Intellectual property rights ownership: approved start-up and/or associated university.
Application
Technology start-ups interested in TSSSU should submit their applications to the knowledge transfer office/technology transfer office/entrepreneurial centre of their associated universities. The six universities have prescribed their respective application forms and guidelines on the handling of TSSSU applications. For details, please refer to their websites –
| University | Weblink |
|---|---|
| The University of Hong Kong | http://www.tto.hku.hk/public/tsssu/index.html |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong | https://www.orkts.cuhk.edu.hk/knowledge-transfer-initiatives/events |
| City University of Hong Kong | http://www.cityu.edu.hk/kto/index.aspx?id=PG-1600019 |
| The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | http://ttc.ust.hk/tsssu |
| Hong Kong Baptist University | http://kto.hkbu.edu.hk/eng/tsssu |
| The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | http://www.polyulaunchpadfund.hk/ |
Assessment
Applications assessed and recommended by the selection panel of each university will be forwarded to the Innovation and Technology Commission for agreement.
Others
Some examples of the TSSSU-funded start-ups are available at this weblink. For information on the funded start-ups, please refer to the TSSSU Directory.