'Soft Landing' program to support access to Hong Kong and China

Hong Kong’s ‘Soft-landing Programme for Technology and Innovation Collaboration’ is open to technology transfer offices (TTOs), research and development centres, research institutes and spin-out companies of overseas universities interested in exploring the Asian market, especially mainland China.

The program has been launched to provide promotion of overseas innovations and technology to the Hong Kong industry, as well as to provide access to business networks, market intelligence and resources to start businesses in Asia.

Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) will offer a full range of supports and resources to explore new business opportunities in Hong Kong, as well as mainland China.

The program offers opportunities for short-listed applicants to promote innovations and technologies to the potential business partners in Hong Kong and the mainland China, via:

• shared office space during visits to Hong Kong;
• networking and matchmaking activities targeting different industries;
• a familiarisation program for market, legal and business development which includes factory visits, meetings with industry leaders and workshops;
• a dedicated project website for both overseas and local TTOs to post their project information; and
• support for partial travel arrangement (air ticket and hotel accommodation) for the senior executives of overseas TTOs, key researchers and project leaders.

Selection is made by an evaluation committee, comprising representatives from HKSTPC, industry organisations, academic institutions and research institutes. The evaluation committee will play an important role in identifying high-potential TTOs and their projects.

The program has two tiers for overseas entities. Tier 1 is for overseas entities that can present an array of technology relevant to Hong Kong’s industry. They will be entitled to:

• exchange information on the trend and development of technology transfer, as well as research capability, through promotional seminars, to be carried out in Hong Kong and Shenzhen/Pearl River Delta Region;
• obtain partial travel subsidies, up to HK$30,000, to offset the round-trip economy air ticket and hotel accommodation expenses for the senior executives of selected TTOs during their stay in Hong Kong and/or Shenzhen/Pearl River Delta.

Tier 2 is for individual projects that are of relevance to the local industry and the research community. They will be offered:

• the chance to promote their technology to local industry via matchmaking activities and technology seminars, which are to be held in Hong Kong and Shenzhen;
• air ticket and hotel accommodation subsidies for the university’s TTO executive or the project leader or researcher of the selected project, which will be capped at 70% of the cost to be incurred or HK$21,000, whichever is the lower.

For applications and/or enquiries, please contact Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation via one of the following people:

• Daisy Yue: email daisy.yue@hkstp.org or call +852 2629 6901
• Natty Fung: email natty.fung@hkstp.org or call +852 2629 6876
• Emily Yeung: email emily.yeung@hkstp.org or call +852 2629 6729