To continue its efforts in promoting the new Small Entrepreneur Research Assistance Programme (SERAP), ITC organised a forum on 13 May at the Hong Kong Productivity Council for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who wish to turn their innovative ideas into successful business and to undertake research and development to develop new products or services.

The forum was very well received. 120 industry practitioners turned up with a view to understanding more about SERAP and sharing the experience of companies that had made outstanding achievements with the support of the SERAP funding.

'SERAP certainly provides good support for start-ups as well as for SMEs. I wish SERAP were there when my partner and I started our company more than 10 years ago', said Mr Kenneth Ho, CEO of Ying Leung Limited, a design house in the electronic toy industry. 'Our company will definitely apply for funding support from SERAP in the future', he added.

Ms Shirley Lai, Charter President of the newly established Innovative Entrepreneur Association, made similar comments. 'We find the forum very informative. The SERAP will certainly help foster the development of technology business in Hong Kong.' About 10 members from the Association joined the forum.

In addition, following on the good response for the Experience Sharing Forum on SERAP held for university students in March, Mr Alan Ho, Senior Manager (Technopreneurial Funding) of ITC, spoke at a guest lecture for MBA students of The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 19 May. The topic was 'Hong Kong SAR Government Support Programmes for Start Up Technology Companies'.

In order to encourage more enterprises to conduct research and development activities, and develop innovative ideas, the application criteria for SERAP have been relaxed from 1 April this year, allowing technology companies with less than 100 employees to apply. As at April 2008, more than 260 projects have benefited from the scheme with funding support of over HK$270 million.