Technology Talent Scheme opens for application

     The Innovation and Technology Commission today (August 22) launched the Technology Talent Scheme to nurture and bring together more technology talent on a pilot basis for five years. There are two initiatives under the scheme – the Postdoctoral Hub programme and the Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme (RTTP).

     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, said, "Talent is a key factor in the global innovation and technology race. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been taking a proactive approach to attracting and nurturing top-notch talent and building a critical talent pool required for driving innovation and technology. Following the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, we are introducing the Technology Talent Scheme to subsidise research institutions and enterprises to recruit talent to carry out research and development activities, and train their existing staff to apply advanced technology for adding value to their businesses. We encourage employers to make good use of the scheme."

     The Postdoctoral Hub programme provides funding support to recipients of the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) as well as incubatees and innovation and technology tenants of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, to recruit up to two postdoctoral talents for research and development work. The ITF will provide a monthly allowance of $32,000 for each postdoctoral talent for up to 24 months. The talents concerned must possess a doctoral degree in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related discipline from either a local university or a well-recognised non-local institution, i.e. one among the top 100 institutions in STEM-related subjects in world university rankings such as the QS World University Rankings, Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

     The RTTP subsidises local companies on a 2:1 matching basis to train their staff in advanced technologies, especially those related to Industry 4.0. The RTTP is administered by the Vocational Training Council. The trainee must be a Hong Kong permanent resident and employed by a non-government and non-subvented local enterprise.

     To implement the measures announced in the Chief Executive's 2017 Policy Address, $500 million was earmarked under the ITF to launch the Technology Talent Scheme.

     More information on the Technology Talent Scheme is available on the ITF website (www.itf.gov.hk). For enquiries, please contact the ITF Secretariat (Tel: 3655 5678; email: enquiry@itf.gov.hk).