Research Talent Hub for Incubatees and I&T Tenants of the HKSTPC and the Cyberport (RTH-SPC)

Objectives:

• To nurture and attract more technology talent.
• To encourage careers in innovation and scientific research.
• To support incubatees and innovation & technology (I&T) tenants of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport) in recruiting research talents for R&D work.
• It merges the previous Researcher Programme and Postdoctoral Hub for these tenants.

Target Beneficiaries:

• Applicant companies must be incubatees or I&T tenants of HKSTPC or Cyberport.
• Research talents must be Hong Kong permanent residents or legally permitted to work in Hong Kong.
• Research talents must hold a bachelor (including top-up), master, or doctoral degree in STEM disciplines from recognized local or non-local institutions.

Key Features:

• Each applicant company can engage up to 4 research talents simultaneously.
• Maximum engagement period per research talent is generally 36 months.
• Monthly salary allowance caps: HK$20,000 for bachelor’s, HK$23,000 for master’s, and HK$35,000 for doctoral degree holders.
• Additional monthly living allowance of HK$10,000 for doctoral degree research talents.
• Research talents must work full-time on R&D for the funded project.
• The allowance covers only the salary, excluding fringe benefits or overheads.
• Funding is reimbursed after progress report acceptance, typically on a half-yearly basis.

Application Process:

• Applications are accepted year-round.
• Submission is through the Innovation and Technology Commission Funding Administrative System (ITCFAS).
• Applicants should read the RTH-SPC Application Guide before applying.
• Selection of research talents must be open, fair, and free from conflicts of interest.

This program specifically supports technology talent recruitment for incubatees and I&T tenants within HKSTPC and Cyberport to boost innovation and R&D capacity in Hong Kong.