Deadline: November 30, 2025
The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), through the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) Impact Incubator, is supporting innovative solutions that address poverty and social exclusion in Hong Kong by providing financial resources and incubation services to social entrepreneurs and innovators.
The focus is to connect community with different sectors, including businesses, NGOs, academics and philanthropies to create social impact through innovative solutions that address poverty and social exclusion, provide visionary individuals and organisations with diverse resources in support of research, capacity building and the entire life cycle of innovative ventures from idea incubation and seed funding to implementation and eventual scale-up, foster an ecosystem where social entrepreneurs can thrive and innovative ideas, products and services can benefit society by meeting underserved needs, unleashing underutilised talents, promoting social inclusion as well as enhancing the well-being and cohesion of the society, and strengthen collaboration with the government in taking forward the strategy of “Targeted Poverty Alleviation” so as to tackle pressing poverty issues and meet the needs of vulnerable groups.
The Impact Incubator, as an intermediary of the SIE Fund, provides a one-stop supporting platform for social innovation initiatives. It offers comprehensive resources, mentorship, and networks through the “7Ps Incubation Package” to social entrepreneurs, social intra-preneurs, and social innovators. Projects applying for funding are expected to develop sustainable business solutions that address poverty-related challenges and drive social good.
Grant amounts vary depending on project stage, with start-up, growing and scale-up applications eligible for between HKD300,001 and HKD900,000 at a 2:1 fund-matching ratio, or above HKD900,000 with no upper limit at a 1:1 matching ratio. Projects are funded for durations of 12 to 18 months, with applications exceeding 18 months not considered for future cohorts. Matching funds may include cash or in-kind sponsorship from donors, foundations, or investors, excluding HKSAR Government funding. Applications requesting HKD2,000,000 or above are subject to additional review by the Joint Vetting and Proposal Assessment Committees.
Although late prototype projects were previously eligible, applications in this category closed after the 2023 cohorts. For currently eligible categories, applicants must be organisations or companies limited by guarantee or by shares, registered in Hong Kong. Individuals are not eligible for new applications. Furthermore, projects funded or considered under other public funding schemes will not be considered.
Budgets should strictly cover project-related expenditures, including equipment, renovation, staff salaries, consumables, consultancy, production, promotion, audit, insurance, rental, utilities and approved administrative overheads. The disbursement of grants will be in installments into a designated bank account, with initial funding provided at project commencement and subsequent releases tied to milestones and performance reports. At least 10% of the total grant is withheld as retention money and released upon project completion.
The upcoming deadline for applications is 30 November 2025.
For more information, visit Impact Incubator.
