Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme

Date: 2010/05/04

 

On 1 April 2010, the Innvoation and Technology Commission launched the “Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme”, which aims to reinforce the research culture among business enterprises and encourage them to establish stronger partnership with local public research institutions.
 
Eligibility
To encourage companies to invest more in research and development (R&D), the Scheme provides a cash rebate equivalent to 10% of a company’s expenditure in two types of applied R&D projects:
1.projects under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) (“ITF projects”); and
2.projects funded entirely by the companies and conducted by the designated local research institutions.
 
For Partnership projects, the following types of work or activities will not be eligible for cash rebate under the Scheme -
1. product enhancement/customization and related work, conventional operation or/and business activities without research content, such as product design and general system automation;
2. companies’ in-house R&D work; and
3. research projects outside the science and technology fields such as market research and management studies.
 
The designated local research institutions include:
1. local universities;
2. R&D Centres set up under the ITF;
3. Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine;
4. Hong Kong Productivity Council; and
5. Vocational Training Council.
 

For details of the designated institutions and other relevant information, please visit the website: http://www.itc.gov.hk/ch/funding/itf.htm.