Government unveils enhanced measures for Distance Business Programme

The funding period for subscription-based IT solutions will be extended from six to 12 months.

The Innovation and Technology Commission has introduced enhanced measures for the Distance Business Programme to further support enterprises develop online processes, a press release revealed.

First launched on 18 May, the programme aims to provide funding support for enterprises to continue business and services during the epidemic through the adoption of IT solutions. Of the 14,056 applications processed so far, 12,818 have been approved with total funding of more than $540m.

From 9AM on 31 August, enterprises may submit a second application in which the categories of the IT solutions must be different from the approved categories in the first application. They may submit the application after they have replied to the Secretariat on the result of the first application. The assessment criteria of the programme remain unchanged and each enterprise may receive aggregate funding of up to $300,000.

The funding period for subscription-based IT solutions will also be extended from six to 12 months. This also applies to applications that were already approved.

Further, the government has lifted the restriction where related entities deemed as a single entity are not allowed to submit. Social enterprises with certifications issued by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service for the Distance Business Programme are now eligible.