Research Talent Hub for Incubatees and I&T Tenants of the HKSTPC and the Cyberport (RTH-SPC)
Objective
To nurture and bring together more technology talent and encourage them to pursue a career in innovation and scientific research, the RTH-SPC, launched in July 2020, provides incubatees and innovation and technology (I&T) tenants of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport) with funding support for the recruitment of research talents to conduct research and development (R&D) work. The RTH-SPC merged the previous Researcher Programme and Postdoctoral Hub for incubatees and I&T tenants of the HKSTPC and the Cyberport.
Eligibility
Applicant Company
Incubatees and I&T tenants of the HKSTPC and the Cyberport
Research Talent
- must be a Hong Kong permanent resident or person legally permitted to work in Hong Kong during the RTH-SPC engagement period; and
- must possess a bachelor degree (including top-up bachelor degree), a master degree or a doctoral degree of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ("STEM")-related discipline awarded by either a local university or a well-recognised non-local institution6, or jointly awarded by a local university together with a non-local university.
Key Features
- Each applicant company can engage up to 4 research talents at any one time.
- The maximum engagement period for each research talent under the Research Talent Hub is 36 months in general.
- The maximum monthly salary allowance is HK$20,000 for research talents with a bachelor degree, HK$23,000 for those with a master degree, and HK$35,000 for those with a doctoral degree.
- An additional monthly living allowance of $10,000 will be provided to research talents participating in the RTH-SPC with doctoral degrees.
Application
The RTH-SPC invites applications for funding all year round. Applications should be submitted through the Innovation and Technology Commission Funding Administrative System. Please read the "RTH-SPC Application Guide" before submitting an application.
Frequently Asked Questions
The applicant company should ensure that the talent selection process is open, fair and without prejudice to any candidates. To avoid conflict of interest, in selecting a research talent, the applicant company must not engage a research talent who is the proprietor, partner, shareholder or management of the applicant company or their relatives. The applicant company or any person/staff authorised by the applicant company to handle or in any way to be involved in the selection process should declare that they have no actual or potential conflict of interest; or otherwise should not participate in the selection process.
Yes. Any non-local research talents who are eligible under the RTH, including those admitted under TechTAS, can benefit from the RTH. The concerned talent must possess a bachelor degree (including top-up bachelor degree), a master degree or a doctoral degree of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ("STEM")-related discipline awarded by either a local university or a well-recognised non-local institution, or jointly awarded by a local university together with a non-local university.
No. The research talent being engaged should assist in the R&D work of the funded project on a full-time basis. The applicant company should comply with the relevant legislative requirements concerning the employment of the talent.
No. The monthly allowance should be paid in full towards the actual lump sum monthly remuneration for the research talent who participates in the SPC project. No other allowances, overhead or fringe benefits, etc. should be payable from the RTH. The monthly allowance will be provided to the applicant company on a reimbursement basis after acceptance of the progress report by ITC (i.e. on a half-yearly basis in general).
Others
Technology companies which are not incubatees or I&T tenants of the HKSTPC or the Cyberport should apply under the RTH-TC
- Tel: (852) 3655 5678
- Fax: (852) 3523 1189
- Email: enquiry@itf.gov.hk