To help Hong Kong enterprises capture the opportunities arising from the National 12th Five-Year Plan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government set up a “Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestics Sales” (the BUD Fund) of $1 billion in June 2012. To help SMEs, including start-ups, grasp economic opportunities and boost their competitiveness, and to increase the cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise for projects involving the Mainland China Market (the “Mainland Program”).
The Government extended the geographical coverage of the BUD Fund in August 2018 to also include the Association of Southeast Asian Nation ("ASEAN") markets. A further expansion of the geographical coverage was implemented in January 2020 to cover other economies with which Hong Kong had signed Free Trade Agreements (“FTAs”) to assist enterprises in taking the economic opportunities.
To support enterprises in exploring more diversified markets, the Government launch a new round of enhancement measures by phases starting from July 2021, including extending the geographical coverage of the Fund to include all economies with which Hong Kong has signed Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (“IPPAs“) and increasing the cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise to $6 million.
Eligibility & Application 申請資格及方式
申請資格
Eligibility
所有按照《商業登記條例》（第310章）在香港登記，並在香港有實質業務運作的非上市企業。
All non-listed enterprises registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Chapter 310) with substantive business operations in Hong Kong are eligible to apply.
每個項目最高資助金額Funding ceiling per project
所有按照《商業登記條例》（第310章）在香港登記，並在香港有實質業務運作的非上市企業。
All non-listed enterprises registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Chapter 310) with substantive business operations in Hong Kong are eligible to apply.
每間企業可獲資助的項目及累積資助金額上限
Cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise
每家企業的合共最多可獲資助核准項目及最高累計積資助上限「自貿協定及投資協定計劃」和「內地計劃」)分別為六十個核准項目及港幣六百萬元正。
Maximum number of approved projects is 60 and the cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise is HK$6,000,000, which is the total cumulative funding ceiling of the Scheme (“Mainland Program” and “FTA and IPPA Program") per enterprise.
撥款發放方式Disbursement of Funds
申請企業可選擇以方式[1]申領首期撥款 (75%的核准撥款總數)或方式[2]不申領首期撥款提交項目申請。
Applicant enterprise can select either method [1] - Initial Payment required (75% of total approved funding) or [2] - Initial Payment not required to submit application.
項目推行時間
Project Duration
最多24個月 ( 如推行時間為18個月以上至24個月的項目，企業需提交涵蓋項目推行首12個月的進度報告及年度經審計帳目。)
Maximum of 24 months. Project with duration over 18 months and up to 24 months requires one progress report and annual audited accounts for the first 12 - month period.
Funding is provided on a matching basis, Government will cover a maximum of 50% of the total approved project cost Enterprise has to contribute at least 50% of the total approved project in cash.