Hong Kong, September 9 (Reporter Liu Dawei) "On the road to business, enterprises will inevitably encounter various challenges and opportunities. As the strongest backbone for Hong Kong's industrial, commercial and manufacturing industries, HKPC has been encouraging enterprises to make good use of the funding provided by the HKSAR Government to cope with the rapidly changing market environment. Chief Operating Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), Lam Chi Kwan, said recently in Hong Kong.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Ms Lam Chi-kwan, recently held a media sharing session to introduce the various HKSAR government funding schemes undertaken by the HKSAR. Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Productivity Council.
HKPC is one of the largest and most powerful applied R&D institutions in Hong Kong, aiming to use innovative technology to help Hong Kong's manufacturing industry transform and upgrade and promote the development of new industrialization. HKPC also serves as the implementing agency for a number of HKSAR Government subsidy schemes. In this regard, Ms Lam recently held a media sharing session to introduce HKPC's various funding schemes.
According to statistics, among the existing 50 HKSAR Government Subsidy Schemes, HKPC is responsible for implementing 10, of which 8 are accepting applications from SMEs.
Mr Lam said that in making good use of the HKSAR Government's funding, HKPC not only set up a Subsidy Division in 2021, but also launched the BEE "Subsidy" online platform in 2022. Since its launch in September of that year, the platform has recorded more than 9,43 views so far, making the funding application process smoother.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Ms Lam Chi-kwan, recently held a media sharing session to introduce the various HKSAR government funding schemes undertaken by the HKSAR. Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Productivity Council
She said that from 2022 to 2023, HKPC received more than 2,2 funding applications with an approved amount of about HK$35.<> billion, representing a significant year-on-year increase in the number of applications and the amount approved. HKPC also organises or participates in a number of online and offline seminars and outreach activities to assist SMEs in seeking suitable funding schemes to help them accelerate their implementation of smart manufacturing and upgrade and transformation.
At the sharing meeting, Lin Zhijun introduced to reporters the funding projects that have received the most applications in the past year. She pointed out that among the 2,2 applications received, "Technology Voucher Programme" (TVP) was the most popular among SMEs and received the highest number of applications, accounting for about <>% of the total applications.
"The popularity of this project also shows the effectiveness of Hong Kong's smart city construction in recent years." Lam said that the development of new industries and smart cities is the development direction that the HKSAR Government and HKPC are focusing on, hoping to enable Hong Kong's productivity to evolve and reach new peaks.
According to reports, the "Technology Voucher Programme" is a subsidy scheme to help expand Hong Kong business, supporting non-listed local enterprises or institutions to use technology services and solutions to enhance productivity or upgrade and transform business processes to enhance long-term competitiveness, with a funding amount of up to 75% of the estimated project cost and a funding ceiling of HK$60,<>. (End)