What is the
"Patent Application Grant"?The Patent Application Grant (the Grant) is a granting scheme to assist local companies and individuals to apply for patent registration of their own inventions.
The Grant is administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission.
What is its objectives?
The Grant aims to encourage local companies and inventors to capitalise on their intellectual work through patent registration.
Who are eligible to apply?
All locally incorporated companies or Hong Kong permanent residents who have never owned any patents before are eligible.
What kind of applications will be supported?
All applications for functional patents and inventions are eligible. They should first go through a patent search and a technical appraisal by one of the implementation agents to ensure that there is no infringement on existing patents and there is a reasonable chance of success. Cosmetic designs will not be supported.
Who is the owner of the patent right?
Patents obtained through funding from the Grant will be fully held by the applicants.
How will funding support be given?
For an approved application, a grant of not more than HK$100,000 or 90% of the total costs of the patent application, whichever is the lower, will be provided. Funds are only released to the recognised implementation agencies through which the patent application is processed.
The grant is for covering the direct costs arising from the patent application process, in whole or in part. Examples are pre-application technical appraisal, attorney fees, consultant fees and filing of applications. Overhead expenses, such as rental charges, are not fundable.How will the applications be processed?
Applications will be processed through the recognised implementation agencies on a confidential basis. Applicants will need to provide the agencies with details of their idea or inventions. A patent search and a technical appraisal will be required. On the basis of the evaluation and the search results, the implementation agencies will make recommendations
to the Innovation and Technology Commission, which will decide whether the applications should be funded. The Commission's decision will be final.Who are the implementation agencies?
The Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology Ltd. are the implementation agencies of the Grant.
How to apply?
Applications can be made throughout the year. Application forms could be downloaded from any one of the web sites shown below. Please send the completed form direct to either one of the following implementation agencies or the Innovation and Technology Commission -
Hong Kong Productivity Council
78 Tat Chee Avenue, HKPC Building, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon.
Telephone : 2788 5958
Fax : 2788 5403
Web Site : www.hkpc.org/patent
Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology Ltd
2 Biotechnology Avenue, 12 Miles, Tai Po Road, Shatin, New Territories.
Telephone : 2603 5111
Fax : 2603 5012
Web Site :
www.hkib.org.hk/patentInnovation and Technology Commission
14/F., Ocean Centre, 5 Canton Road, Kowloon.
Telephone : 2737 2206
Fax : 2377 0730
Web Site :
www.info.gov.hk/itc/pag