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Funding reference

Hong Kong Funding Guide for AI Transformation and Training

Three Hong Kong schemes are often mentioned together, yet they serve different applicants and different purposes. This page compares them side by side with official links.

Key answer

If you are arranging advanced technology training for staff already on payroll, start with NITTP (VTC, 1:1 matching, HK$250,000 per company per financial year). If an individual logistics practitioner is taking a pre-approved course, start with PTSGLS (HKPC, 80% fee refund, HK$30,000 cumulative per person). If it is an enterprise-level market development or upgrading project where AI is one tool inside it, start with the BUD Fund (TID). Final eligibility and approval are determined by the scheme administrator.

Official information last checked: 13 September 2026

Side by side

NITTP, PTSGLS and the BUD Fund

The three schemes serve different applicants. Every entry below can be checked on the official page.

NITTP

New Industrialisation and Technology Training Programme

Administrator
Vocational Training Council (VTC)
Intended applicant
A company registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance, non-government and non-subvented. The trainee must be a Hong Kong permanent resident employed full time by the company with a relevant background or experience.
What may be supported
Advanced technology training for company staff, covering registered public courses and tailor-made courses (each subject to the programme's own registration or application requirements).
Funding mechanism
Funded on a 1:1 matching basis, with a company funding ceiling of HK$250,000 per financial year.
Key restrictions
Courses must fall within the programme's advanced technology scope. Government and subvented bodies are not eligible applicants, and the required course approval or application steps must be completed first.
Best-fit AI use case
A company building AI and data capability for staff already on payroll, delivered as advanced technology training courses.
https://nittp.vtc.edu.hk/

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Detailed guide

PTSGLS

Professional Training for Smart and Green Logistics Scheme

Administrator
Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC)
Intended applicant
Refunds are applied for by individuals, not companies. The applicant must be a Hong Kong resident lawfully employable in Hong Kong, working full time in logistics or performing logistics duties.
What may be supported
Pre-approved smart and green logistics courses, covering topics such as e-logistics, digitalisation, blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data, robotics and automation, cybersecurity and ESG.
Funding mechanism
After satisfactorily completing a pre-approved course, the trainee may claim a refund of 80% of course fees, subject to a cumulative ceiling of HK$30,000 per person.
Key restrictions
No double-claiming of another subsidy for the same course. Applications must be submitted within four months after completion. Funding and approval are not guaranteed.
Best-fit AI use case
An individual logistics practitioner taking a smart logistics, automation or AI course that already appears on the scheme's approved course list.
https://bee.hkpc.org/funding-schemes/ptsgls/

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Detailed guide

BUD Fund

Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales

Administrator
Trade and Industry Department (TID)
Intended applicant
Hong Kong enterprises with substantive business operations in Hong Kong, proposing an in-scope project for a market covered by the fund.
What may be supported
Projects aimed at branding, upgrading and restructuring, and sales promotion. Government has stated that coverage extends to 48 economies from 15 June 2026, with more targeted support for BUD projects involving AI elements.
Funding mechanism
Under the existing official position, the cumulative ceiling is HK$7,000,000 with up to 70 approved projects per enterprise. Easy BUD carries a HK$150,000 ceiling from 15 June 2026, and E-commerce Easy allows HK$1,000,000 within the cumulative ceiling for e-commerce projects in Mainland China and ten ASEAN markets.
Key restrictions
Simply buying AI software or arranging training does not automatically qualify. Project scope, market objective, expenditure categories and the current guide govern the outcome.
Best-fit AI use case
An enterprise with a defined market development or upgrading project, where AI is one of the tools inside that project.
https://www.smefund.tid.gov.hk/tc_chi/bud/bud_home.html

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Detailed guide

Final eligibility and approval are determined by the scheme administrator.

Decision flow

Which scheme to look at first

Start from who applies and what for, not from the amount. This is a starting point for enquiry, not an eligibility assessment.

  1. 01

    A company wants advanced technology training for staff on payroll

    Look at NITTP first

    Read the guide
  2. 02

    A logistics practitioner personally takes a pre-approved smart or green logistics course

    Look at PTSGLS first

    Read the guide
  3. 03

    An enterprise has a market development or upgrading project with eligible scope

    Look at the BUD Fund first

    Read the guide

Confirm these six points before contacting the administrator

  • Who applies: a company or an individual? NITTP and BUD are enterprise applications; PTSGLS refunds are claimed by individuals.
  • Whether the company's Hong Kong registration and business operations match the applicant description in that scheme.
  • The trainee's residency and employment status (NITTP, for example, requires a Hong Kong permanent resident employed full time by the company).
  • Whether the course already appears on the scheme's registered or pre-approved list.
  • Whether expenditure items, invoices and payment records map cleanly to the project scope.
  • Deadlines, such as the PTSGLS requirement to apply within four months after course completion.

Documents generally involved (general level only)

  • Company documents: business registration certificate and company particulars.
  • Operating evidence: standard documents showing substantive business operations in Hong Kong.
  • People records: employment proof and identity documents for the trainee.
  • Course records: outline, contact hours, fee receipts and completion evidence.
  • Project documents: project plan, target market rationale and expenditure breakdown (for BUD-type projects).
  • Financial records: payment proof and bank records.

The documents actually required are set out in the official application guide and forms.

Limitations

  • This page summarises key points from publicly available official material. It does not replace the full official guide, application forms and FAQs.
  • Scheme content, amounts, covered markets and procedures are updated from time to time. This page reflects official material as at the last-checked date only.
  • Smark Global is not an approved course provider or application consultant for any scheme, and does not offer a funding application service.
  • This page does not assess any company's eligibility and does not predict approval outcomes.

Disclaimer

  • This page is general information only. It is not government, financial or legal advice.
  • Smark Global is not the administrator of any funding scheme and does not represent any government department or scheme secretariat.
  • Scheme terms, scope, amounts and covered markets can change. Always rely on the latest official guide published by the administrator.
  • Eligibility, acceptance of expenditure and the final approval decision rest solely with the relevant authority or scheme administrator.
  • Information on this page was last checked on 13 September 2026.

Official sources

Official information last checked: 13 September 2026

NITTP technology training funding: a starting guide for Hong Kong companies

How the New Industrialisation and Technology Training Programme supports advanced technology training for company staff, and what to confirm first.

Read the article

PTSGLS smart and green logistics training funding: AI and automation courses

How logistics practitioners claim a course-fee refund for pre-approved smart logistics, AI and automation courses, including the four-month deadline.

Read the article

The BUD Fund and AI upgrading: scope, ceilings and common misreadings

How the BUD Fund treats upgrading and market development projects with AI elements, and why buying AI software does not automatically qualify.

Read the article
Discuss an AI or training project scope

Frequently asked questions

Scope the project first, then look at funding

We can work through the scope, deliverables and timeline of an AI transformation or training project with you. For eligibility and approval, check directly with the official scheme administrator.

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