A one-year early technology validation programme assessed on team capability, innovation and technology, R&D, and business potential. Funding is released against three satisfactory milestones.
An individual or team principal applicant must hold a Hong Kong identity card and be 18 at the deadline. A company applicant must be a Hong Kong private company limited by shares incorporated less than two years before the application period starts.
Official facts
Check the live cohort dates and mandatory eligibility.
Submit the online form, business plan or pitch deck, and a pitch video using the PIC's own face and voice.
HKSTP first reviews the submitted material; shortlisted applicants then attend an Admission Panel Meeting or Material Review Session and online due diligence.
Wait for the final result; the panel decision has no appeal or explanation process.
An approved team must incorporate a Hong Kong limited company within two weeks; approved applicants must return the signed agreement within 30 calendar days of the result announcement.
Current rules
Participate in training, coaching and milestone monitoring.
A team applicant completes Hong Kong incorporation and programme documentation.
Applying to Incubation for the same project during Ideation requires prior HKSTP approval.
Ideation does not automatically progress to Incubation; a separate application is required.
The programme does not provide visa sponsorship.
This page provides a plain-language interpretation of official materials. The official source remains authoritative.
The current application FAQ specifies the PIC rules, pitch-deck and pitch-video formats, and identity or company documents required after approval.
The provider's official programme page for checking current purpose, eligibility, support and application access.
The current guide covers mandatory criteria, application and assessment, three milestones, funding, monitoring, early graduation and the suggested business-plan structure. The file is v6.1 while the document identifies itself as Version 6 dated 8 March 2024.
An HKSTP announcement with AWS states that the Ideation Programme launched in 2019 and records a 2022 co-ideation initiative.
The official annual report describes STEP as a one-year pre-incubation programme for ideation and reports membership, graduates and progression as of March 2021.
This database includes programme participation records that we can verify through HKSTP, Hong Kong Government, project-owned or other primary public sources. HKSTP may not publish every historical participant, so this should not be treated as a complete official roster.
A building-integrated photovoltaic panel mounting robot recorded by HKUST; the public record does not provide further technical detail.
A restaurant operations platform aggregating delivery orders, menus and analytics while supporting direct ordering and virtual brands.
A pet-community and no-code business platform using AI recommendations to support customer relationships and sales operations.
An IoT fire-emergency system designed to identify incident severity and origin and direct occupants along safer evacuation routes.
A software concept for creating campaign assets and adapting them across social platforms from one workflow.
A SaaS platform using computer vision and deep learning to analyse driving behaviour for fleets and motor insurers.
A smartwatch-based health platform using signal processing and machine learning for gait and health-risk analysis.
A biotechnology company applying AI and bioinformatics to cell engineering, genetic circuits and drug-discovery models.
A materials startup developing electricity-free passive radiative cooling coatings for building energy savings and decarbonisation.
An education platform combining gamification, AR and VR for hybrid course creation, delivery and learning management.
An aquaculture venture using indoor recirculating systems, sensors and smart-sponge technology to improve crayfish farming density and survival.
An art-learning platform combining vision-language and generative AI for appreciation, creation feedback and teaching support.
A neurotechnology project combining qEEG, machine learning and AI for neuropsychological assessment and neurofeedback training.
An HKSTP AWS Idea Launcher announcement says the Ideation programme was launched in 2019.
Evidence sourcesHKSTP's annual report described STEP as a one-year pre-incubation programme; the current guide says Ideation was formerly known as STEP.
Evidence sourcesThe current filename is v6.1 while the document face states Version 6 and this date.
Evidence sourcesThe current FAQ details PIC, deck, video and post-approval document requirements.
Evidence sources| Ideation | Incubation | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Idea, pre-MVP and early MVP validation | Market-validated MVP or prototype |
| Company | Individuals or teams may apply; company applicants must be under two years old | Hong Kong technology startup no more than five years old |
| Duration | 1 year | 3 years |
| Support ceiling | Up to HK$100,000 across three milestone tranches | Up to HK$1.29 million in financial and rental subsidy |
| Team | No published minimum full-time headcount | At least 2 full-time staff throughout |
| Core R&D | R&D is assessed; no published on-site staff ratio | At least 50% of full-time staff and no fewer than 2 on-site core R&D staff |
| Equity / SAFE | HKSTP takes no equity | Revamped IncuBoost requires a passed D-Day and a SAFE |
| Applications | Cohort based, normally January / May / September | Rolling year-round |
This helps explain the ecosystem. It is not automatic progression, admission or entitlement to later support.