Application Guidelines


The HKU Collaborative Innovation Center supports visionary, interdisciplinary research through providing funding support, extensive market analysis, and connecting HKU researchers with partners in both academia and industry.  

 

Key Research Areas

 

 

Application Process

 

Phase Timeline Applicant HKUCIC/BICI
1. Pre-evaluation 2-4 weeks Initial meeting with BICI to introduce the technology and discuss project scope
  • Conduct preliminary technology assessment and market analysis
  • Present findings to applicant in a secondary meeting
  • Sign NDA
2. Due Diligence 2-3 months 2-3 rounds of meetings with BICI to refine proposal and address concerns
  • Conduct extensive technology assessment and market analysis
  • Work with applicant to draft a collaboration plan and project proposal
3. Contract/IP Agreement In parallel with Phase 2 / Discuss with applicant or affiliated organization on collaboration and IP terms
4. BICI Board Meeting   Provide supplementary information if necessary

Discuss with applicant or affiliated organization on collaboration and IP terms

5. Signing Contract  Project kick start Receive funding and collaborative resources
  • Direct funding to applicant 
  • Involve resources

 

 

Contact Us

 

For enquiries, please contact Ms. Victoria Tian at victoria.tian@hku.hk.

 

 

FAQs

 

Click here to view the frequently asked questions. 

Work With Us
Why collaborate with us?

Partnering with, BICI, a global leading innovation hub, we have

  1. access to a large pool of funds for research teams and startups
  2. well-established collaboration with universities and research institutes globally
  3. strong connections with industrial partners especially in the Chinese market


We can

  1. fund your resarch
  2. provide you with extensive market analysis
  3. commercialise your technology by forming a startup company or joint venture
  4. help you find research/business partners in both academia and industry
  5. provide resources for technology validation, product prototyping, pilot test, and getting user feedback
  6. help you find supply chain and customers
  7. provide support in securing further investments for your company
Ways for collaboration

We can collaborate with you in different ways depending on the readiness of your technology.

  1. If you need more resources to bring your technology to market, we can fund your research
  2. If your technology is ready for market, we can help you form a startup company to commercialise your technology
  3. If you are already a start up company, we can form a joint venture with you in China to expand your market coverage
Project selection criteria

Research area

 

Strength of innovation

  • Strong technical advantage over current industry standards and competitors (supported by solid preliminary data or prototype)
  • High technology barrier
  • Patentable

 

Commercial potential

  • Feasibility to translate invention into a product or service
  • Addressing an unmet market need
  • Clear market, large customer base
  • No foreseeable obstacle in scale-up production

 

Project team

  • Strong expertise and track record in proposed field of research
  • Clear project goal with realistic approaches for translation