Non-profit-distributing professional, trade or industrial organisations as well as research institutes are invited to apply for funding from the Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme. The application deadline is March 31.

Launched in 2002 with an allocation of $100 million, the scheme finances projects to increase Hong Kong's professional services' competitiveness in the Mainland and other markets.

Grants are given on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis. The maximum grant amount for a project is $2 million.

A briefing session on the scheme will be held on February 23 and helpdesk services will also be available. Click here or call 2918 7593 for details or registration.

234 projects approved in seven years

In the past seven years, the scheme has approved 234 projects with an amount totalling $80.62 million. Of them, 91 projects are related to enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services in the Mainland market.

Applications received in the last round are being processed and the results will be available in mid-March.