Hong Kong Industrialist - Oct 2020

I n August 2020, the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) relaxed the “related entities” clauses in both the “Technology Voucher Programme” (TVP) and the “Distance Business Programme” (D-Biz). The move was welcome by the industry. Since the launch of TVP and D-Biz, many industries have found that the “related entities” clauses would be inconvenient for companies with “related entities” engaging in different businesses. According to ITC, “related entities” refer to companies established by different legal entities but owned by the same person with 30% or more stakes. Before the restriction was released, the “related entities” not only needed to share the total funding of HK$600,000 with other organizations held by the same shareholders when applying for TVP, but they were also not allowed to apply for D-Biz. With the enhancement measures, more companies will be able to make good use of TVP and D-Biz. Utilising government funding schemes to upgrade and transform or develop new products or services has become the strategy of many SMEs who have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The enhanced TVP and D-Biz will help more enterprises carry out e-commerce projects. 在 2020年8月，創新科技署接連放寬「科技券」與「遙距營商計劃」中有關「相關企業」的條款，業界知 悉後均表示歡迎。在推出「科技券」與「遙距營商計劃」時，不少業界均認為「相關企業」的條款將 對擁有從事不同範疇的「相關企業」的集團構成不便。根據署方資料，「相關機構」是指由不同法人機構 成立但由相同人士分別持有30%或以上擁有權的企業。在署方放寬有關條款前，「相關機構」不但在申請 「科技券」時只能與其他由相同股東持有的機構共用60萬元累計資助總額，更不被允許申請「遙距營商計 劃」。在署方優化措施後，將有更多企業能善用「科技券」及「遙距營商計劃」。在新冠肺炎疫情下，利用政 府資助計劃來升級轉型或開發新產品或服務已成為不少中小企的策略，優化後的「科技券」與「遙距營商 計劃」將幫助更多有需要的企業開拓電子商貿項目。 陳嘉賢 Karen Chan Eligibility of the TVP and D-Biz Relaxed 放寬「科技券」與「遙距營商計劃」申請資格 DEPUTY CHAIRMEN’S VIEWS 宏勢微觀 14 | 10-12/2020