# Government funding for corporate AI training in Hong Kong

> NITTP reimburses up to half of advanced-technology staff training, up to HK$250,000 a year. Find out how NITTP, CEF and ERB work for companies.

- URL: https://hyperfocusam.com/blog/government-funding-corporate-ai-training-hong-kong/
- Language: en
- Author: Sam Wong (黃力桐), https://hyperfocusam.com/
- 中文版: https://hyperfocusam.com/blog/government-funding-corporate-ai-training-hong-kong-tc/ (Markdown: https://hyperfocusam.com/blog/government-funding-corporate-ai-training-hong-kong-tc/index.md)
- Published: 2026-10-16; revised 2026-10-16

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HR and L&D teams keep asking me the same question before they book AI training: is there a government subsidy, and can we get a group discount?

The short answer: one government scheme pays an employer back for staff training in advanced technology. It is the New Industrialisation and Technology Training Programme (NITTP), which used to be called RTTP. Two other well-known schemes, CEF and ERB, fund individual learners, not the company. A scheme many companies used to rely on has closed. And no government scheme is a group discount.

| Scheme | Who it pays | How much / cap | Key deadline or status | Fits company AI training? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NITTP (formerly RTTP) | The employer, as a reimbursement after the training | Up to half the training cost (1:1), up to HK$250,000 per company each financial year | Course approval at least four months before the course starts; grant application at least five weeks before; claim within two months after it ends | Yes, if the vetting panel accepts the course as advanced technology and each employee qualifies |
| CEF | The individual learner | Up to HK$25,000 per person in total | The learner claims after a listed course, with at least 70% attendance and a pass in the assessment | No. The individual claims, not the employer |
| ERB | The individual learner | Course places for the learner, not money for the company | To become "Upskill Hong Kong" once the law is amended (2026-27 Budget) | No. Individuals enrol; the Tailor-made Programme is for filling 12 or more vacancies, not upskilling current staff |
| TVP | Not applicable: closed | Not applicable: closed | Stopped accepting applications after 31 December 2024 | No |
| BUD Fund | Companies, for market-development projects | Not applicable to training | The June 2026 guide lists "Fees for attending AI-related training courses" as not funded | No |

Last checked: 16 Oct 2026.

Below is what each scheme covers, who qualifies, how to apply and how long it takes. Every scheme fact comes from the official page, checked on 16 October 2026. The sources are listed at the end. Rules change, so read the official page again before you apply.

## NITTP: the one scheme that pays the employer

NITTP was launched in August 2018 as the Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme (RTTP) and renamed in October 2023. If you search for "RTTP", you will find older pages with older terms. The current name is NITTP, and the Vocational Training Council (VTC) runs it as the Secretariat.

What it pays, under the rules in force since 1 August 2025:

- **1:1 matching.** The government pays up to half of the training cost and the company pays at least half. Before 1 August 2025 the ratio was 2:1.
- **Up to HK$250,000 per company in each financial year**, counted by the course start date. Before 1 August 2025 the ceiling was HK$500,000.
- **One course per employee in each financial year.**
- **Paid as a reimbursement** after the training. A company can choose to receive 50% of the approved grant in advance.

Two kinds of course are supported. A **public course** is open to anyone and is registered by the training provider. A **tailor-made course** is designed for one company (or a few), and the company itself submits the course for approval as part of its grant application.

The course has to be about technology that is "advanced in nature and not yet widely adopted in Hong Kong", and it has to transfer in-depth knowledge. A Course Vetting Panel under the VTC decides that, course by course.

## Who qualifies

**The company** must be registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and must be a non-government, non-subvented organisation.

**Each employee you nominate** must be:

- a Hong Kong permanent resident;
- a full-time employee of the company;
- holding a diploma, higher diploma or degree (Qualification Framework level 3 or above) with at least one year of work experience relevant to the technology of the course, or, without that qualification, at least two years of relevant work experience.

If an employee meets neither condition, the company has to explain why it nominated that person. For each trainee, the grant application asks for a copy of three months of MPF records and proof of qualifications and experience.

This is the part HR teams underestimate. The scheme is built for staff who already work with the technology, so before you plan a whole department around it, check each name against these conditions.

## How to apply, and how long it takes

The deadlines are set by the course start date, so work backwards from it.

1. **Course approval: at least four months before the course starts.** For a public course, the provider has already done this. For a tailor-made course, the company applies. The Secretariat normally releases the result within 60 working days of receiving all documents.
2. **Training grant: at least five weeks before the course starts.** The company applies for its employees. The result normally comes within 25 working days of receiving all documents.
3. **Training.** An employee counts as completing the course only with at least 70% attendance.
4. **Claim: within two months after the course ends.** Claims are normally processed within 60 working days of receiving all documents from both the provider and the company.

Late applications may not be processed. In practice, a company planning a tailor-made course should start about half a year ahead. Expect the money to come back months after the training. When the Audit Commission reviewed claims approved from January to March 2023, the average time from claim to payment was 146 days.

## CEF and ERB: money for the learner, not the company

**The Continuing Education Fund (CEF)** subsidises adults aged 18 or above. Each person can claim up to HK$25,000 in total. The learner pays 20% of the fee for the first HK$10,000 of subsidy and 40% for the remaining HK$15,000. Only courses on the CEF reimbursable course list qualify, and the learner must attend at least 70% of the course and pass its assessment. The individual claims, not the employer. It suits an employee who wants to take a registered course on their own, not an in-house programme for a team.

**The Employees Retraining Board (ERB)** runs courses for eligible employees in Hong Kong aged 15 or above, including AI courses such as a Certificate in Business Applications of Generative AI. Again, the individual enrols. ERB's "Tailor-made Programme" for employers is for companies with 12 or more vacancies in one position: it covers recruitment, pre-employment training and placement, not upskilling the staff you already have. The 2026-27 Budget announced that ERB will become "Upskill Hong Kong", with more AI courses, once the law is amended.

## What does not pay for AI training

**The Technology Voucher Programme (TVP)** stopped accepting applications after 31 December 2024. Some provider pages still list it, so do not plan around it.

**The BUD Fund** supports market-development projects, not training. Its June 2026 application guide lists "Fees for attending AI-related training courses" among the expenditure items that will not be funded.

I wrote about what the 2026-27 Budget means for company training in a separate article: [what the 2026 Budget's AI training push means for your company](https://hyperfocusam.com/blog/hk-2026-budget-ai-training/).

## What about group discounts?

No government scheme gives a group discount. Group pricing is something you agree with the training provider, so ask each provider for a quote for your headcount and format.

If you plan to use NITTP, two rules matter. First, the grant is based on what you actually pay, and early-bird or other discounts are deducted from it. Second, a provider must not charge NITTP trainees more than other trainees for the same course. So compare the price you would actually pay, not the price before the subsidy.

## Questions to settle before you apply

- Is the course a registered NITTP public course? If not, are you ready to apply for a tailor-made course at least four months ahead?
- Does every employee you plan to nominate meet the residency, full-time and background conditions?
- Has anyone on the list already used their one NITTP course this financial year?
- Can the company pay the full fee first and wait for the reimbursement?
- Is the training about technology that is advanced and not yet widely adopted, with enough depth to pass the vetting panel?

## Where my training fits

Eligibility is decided by the NITTP Secretariat, not by me, and it depends on your company, the staff you nominate and the course. If you want to know whether a programme with me could fit a funded format, ask me before you book, and I will share the official guidance and talk it through with you.

Whatever the funding, the same question decides whether the money is well spent: will people use AI in their own work afterwards? I wrote about that in [why AI training doesn't stick](https://hyperfocusam.com/blog/why-ai-training-doesnt-stick/), and about choosing a provider in [five questions to ask before you buy AI training](https://hyperfocusam.com/blog/five-questions-corporate-ai-training-hong-kong/).

Tell me about your team's work and where it gets stuck using the enquiry form or WhatsApp. I will suggest the right format from there.

[Prefer WhatsApp? Message Sam](https://wa.me/85264315177?text=Hi%20Sam%2C%20I%20found%20you%20on%20hyperfocusam.com%20and%20I%27d%20like%20to%20ask%20about%20AI%20training%20for%20my%20team.)

## FAQ

### Is there government funding for corporate AI training in Hong Kong?

Yes, for some employers. The NITTP scheme reimburses up to half of the cost of staff training in advanced technology, up to HK$250,000 per company each financial year. The NITTP Secretariat decides eligibility. Both the course and the grant must be approved before training begins.

### Is RTTP the same as NITTP?

Yes. RTTP was renamed NITTP in October 2023. From 1 August 2025, the scheme matches 1:1 with a HK$250,000 annual ceiling per company. Older pages mentioning 2:1 or HK$500,000 are out of date.

### Can my company use CEF or ERB for staff AI training?

No. CEF reimburses individuals for courses on its list, and ERB courses are taken by individuals. Neither scheme pays the company for an in-house programme.

### Can a half-day AI workshop be funded?

The vetting panel decides this. The course must cover technology that is advanced and not yet widely adopted in Hong Kong. It must also transfer in-depth knowledge, so check eligibility before assuming a short session qualifies.

### How long does NITTP take?

Course approval requires at least four months before the start date. The grant application must go in at least five weeks before. The reimbursement claim is due within two months after the course ends.

### Does any scheme give a group discount?

No. Group pricing is agreed with the training provider. Under NITTP, any discount is deducted from the grant.

## Sources

- NITTP: [itf.gov.hk](https://www.itf.gov.hk/en/funding-programmes/promoting-new-industrialisation/new-industrialisation-support-scheme/nittp/index.html) · [nittp.vtc.edu.hk](https://nittp.vtc.edu.hk/en/programme-description) · [nittp.vtc.edu.hk](https://nittp.vtc.edu.hk/en/application-and-reimbursement) · [nittp.vtc.edu.hk](https://nittp.vtc.edu.hk/f/upload/54/NITTP_Guidance_Notes_Training_Grant_Applications_EN__20250801_.pdf) · [nittp.vtc.edu.hk](https://nittp.vtc.edu.hk/f/upload/54/NITTP_Guidance_Notes_Course_Applications_EN__20250801_.pdf) · [aud.gov.hk](https://www.aud.gov.hk/pdf_e/e81ch07sum.pdf)
- CEF: [wfsfaa.gov.hk](https://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/en/ce/cef/faq.php) · [wfsfaa.gov.hk](https://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/cef/download/SFO312E.pdf)
- ERB: [erb.org](https://www.erb.org/en/training-courses/erb-courses/application-guidelines) · [erb.org](https://www.erb.org/en/training-courses/dedicated-training-programmes/tailor-made-programme) · [erb.org](https://www.erb.org/en/corporate-information/press-releases/erb-welcomes-budget-speech-on-upgrading-erb-as-upskill-hong-kong)
- TVP: [info.gov.hk](https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202412/13/P2024121300384.htm)
- BUD: [bud.hkpc.org](https://fta.bud.hkpc.org/sites/default/files/download/General-Guide-to-Application-EN_202606.pdf)