RAISe+ provides up to HK$100 million per project to UGC-funded universities for research transformation and commercialisation. Stage one may receive up to 2:1 government matching against industry and university contribution; stage two is matched 1:1 with industry.
Do not force an early project into stage two
Stage one is for applied R&D that is close to completion but still needs transformation work. Stage two is commercialisation: the research is complete and there may already be a prototype. The right starting point depends on the remaining uncertainty, not on which matching ratio or budget appears more attractive.
List the evidence already in hand and the decisions still unresolved. If core performance has not been reproduced, a business plan cannot make the project stage-two ready. If the technical work is mature, another broad research programme may simply postpone customer and regulatory work.
Industry sponsorship should carry information
A strong sponsor contributes more than matching cash. The application should explain what the sponsor knows about the market, what access or validation it will provide, whether it has procurement or licensing interest and how conflicts will be managed. Keep signed commitment, payment timing and commercial expectations aligned.
Build the five-year plan around technical, regulatory, market and company milestones. Each stage gate should answer a decision: continue, redesign, license, form or grow a startup, or stop. That makes the public and industry capital easier to govern.
Set the IP conversation down in writing
The scheme protects a minimum share of benefits for the university team or inventors from IP they generate during the project. Before submission, align the university, team and sponsor on background IP, new IP, licensing rights, publication, follow-on investment and what happens if a proposed company is not formed.
Primary sources
These links are published by the programme operator or responsible authority. Recheck them immediately before applying.
Reviewed by the HK Grant Resource editorial desk on 19 September 2026 against the primary sources above.
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