Seven firms secure IP-backed loan approvals of up to $39m

The initial batch spans electronics, construction, toy manufacturing, and medical devices.

Seven enterprises have secured loan approvals ranging from $1m to $39m under Hong Kong's Intellectual Property (IP) Financing Sandbox, the government announced on 30 September.

The participating companies are AluHouse International Trading, Hang Bo Industrial, Jonwin International, Luen Yick Electrical, Man Yue Technology Holdings, Shing Hing Plastic Manufacturing, and SML Med-Tech Solutions.

The initial batch of pilot cases spans the electronics, construction, toy manufacturing, and medical device sectors. Their loan applications were backed by patent and trademark assets.

Originally introduced in last year’s Policy Address, the IP Financing Sandbox aims to provide a risk-controlled, collaborative environment for key stakeholders to test the full lifecycle of funding arrangements.

Future expansion plans include refining the IP valuation processes and bringing more financial institutions into the sandbox. Bank of China (Hong Kong), HSBC, and Standard Chartered Bank have already taken part in the initiative.

Separately, the government launched a separate Pilot Patent Valuation Support Scheme through the Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Support Centre.

Under the scheme, eligible small and medium-sized enterprises can receive one-off government funding of up to $80,000 on a 1:1 matching basis to hire qualified service providers to value their patents and other IP assets.