Intellectual Property Service Centre (IPSC)
Intellectual Property Service Centre ("IPedia")
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has been providing intellectual property-related services to support Hong Kong industries in developing high-end technology and innovations since around 1997, grouping our services under the Intellectual Property Services Centre (IPSC). Serving as a vital resource for local enterprises and the community engaged in innovation, research, and development, IPSC offers a wide range of Intellectual Property (IP) services, including IP searches, training, and strategic support, to empower businesses in protecting and managing their creative and technological advancements.
Recently, in support of Hong Kong’s ambition to become an international innovation and technology hub, HKPC is further enriching and refining our IP services, and we are rebranding our services as “IPedia.” As the name suggests, we aim to become the “encyclopedia” for “IP” in Hong Kong, signifying our dedication to being a comprehensive, accessible resource on IP for the innovation and technology sector and industries in Hong Kong.
IPedia has three focus service areas:
- Secretariat Services for the Patent Application Grant (PAG);
- The Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) for Hong Kong (within the framework of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) initiative, application pending); and
- Trademark and other Consultancy Services.
Each of our service areas is dedicated to providing support and resources, ensuring that Hong Kong remains at the forefront of innovation and intellectual property management.
IPedia’s mission is to assist local companies and inventors in capitalising on their intellectual works by leveraging IP services, thus fostering a robust environment for innovation and growth in the region.
Patent Application Grant (PAG) is a funding scheme to assist local companies and individuals to apply for patents of their own inventions.
PAG is administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) with Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) as the implementation agent.
Key Features of PAG:
- Maximum funding support: HK$250,000 or 90% of the sum of the total direct costs of patent application, whichever is the lower.
- The grant applies to patent applications anywhere in the world.
- The grant is non-transferrable and valid for 3 years from the date of approval of the application.
For more details, please refer to the PAG website
The WIPO’s TISC programme provides innovators with access to high-quality technology information and services, helping them to create, protect, and manage their IP rights.
In early 2024, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced in the Budget its support for the Hong Kong Productivity Council to establish the first TISC in Hong Kong. This initiative aims to enhance Hong Kong's status as an international innovation and technology hub and a regional IP trading centre.
HKPC is actively preparing to establish the TISC, focusing on patent search and analysis, protecting R&D achievements, and nurturing talent equipped with patent knowledge, contributing to Hong Kong’s intellectual property trade.
It is anticipated that the TISC will provide the following services:
(a) Patent Search Service
To enhance access to patent information, HKPC offers a comprehensive basic search service to empower inventors and enterprises to efficiently uncover essential patent details, ensuring they are well-informed about various technologies, innovations and market trends.
The patent search service includes retrieving below key patent information:
- Patent application date/publication date
- Patent application number/publication number
- Patent applicant/Assignee name
- Inventor name
- IPC classification number
- Patent legal status
(b) IP Enquiry Service
During the process of developing new technologies, innovators may have questions about how to use IP to protect their innovations, timely IP information support can help them improve research efficiency and protect innovative achievements.
HKPC provides enquiry service to provide support on IP resources, IP protection, IP commercialisation, IP search and other IP related matters. This helps innovators improve their IP awareness and make full use of the IP information.
(c) IP training
HKPC provides diverse portfolio of IP trainings, aiming to equip inventors and enterprises with key strategies for not only safeguarding their IP but also successfully commercializing their inventions. The trainings cover the essential IP topics, such as IP fundamentals, IP literature features and usage, IP information search and analysis etc. Tailored trainings are also available to address the needs of different target audiences and technologies.
Brand Building and R&D processes entail huge labour effort and capital. IP application is a vital step to protect your intellectual works in these areas.
Trademark searches and registrations are important for companies for brand development strategies and for avoiding infringing others’ rights. HKPC is here to help by working closely with local and overseas professionals to provide Trademark protection services including:
- Brand protection strategy consultation
- Trademark Clearance Search
- Trademark Ownership Search
- Trademark Registration
- Trademark Renewal
- Technology/ Industry specific research and analysis
Working with the Biz Expands Easy, the one-stop mobile application "BEE@HKPC" provides SMEs with the latest information and application methods for 30 Hong Kong Government Funding schemes. Scan the QR code and download the app now.
