The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), along with 50 other service institutions from the Mainland, has been jointly designated by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as part of a new initiative to establish Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISCs).

Preparatory work for this initiative will take place over the next year. Once the establishment phase is complete, the CNIPA and WIPO will evaluate the progress and authorize the HKPC to officially operate the TISC in Hong Kong, contingent upon meeting the necessary conditions.

Under WIPO’s Development Agenda, TISCs are established to support researchers and innovators at various stages of the innovation cycle. They provide consultation services on a range of topics, including patent utilization, search analysis, technology transfer, IP management, and commercialization. This support helps users leverage the IP system, particularly through patents, to protect their inventions and guide them in bringing technology to market.

More than 100 TISCs have already been established on the Mainland under this dedicated program. The Hong Kong Government has responded positively by participating in the initiative and has allocated funding in the 2024-25 Budget to support the HKPC in establishing and operating the TISC in Hong Kong for the first three years. This will enable Hong Kong to better integrate into national development.

The TISC in Hong Kong will focus on providing local start-ups and small and medium enterprises with high-quality IP (especially patents) information and services. This initiative aims to assist these businesses in exploring their innovation potential and in creating, protecting, managing, and commercializing their intellectual properties, thereby safeguarding research and development outcomes and promoting IP trading.

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