1. Funding ratio: Government 25%, not 50%
The current BUD is a 1:3 matching scheme: the government funds up to 25% of approved expenditure and the enterprise must bear at least 75% in cash. Each enterprise has a cumulative cap of HK$7 million and up to 70 approved projects; at any one time, total funding for approved or ongoing projects must not exceed HK$800,000.
2. Easy BUD cap raised to HK$150,000
From 15 June 2026, the government funding cap per Easy BUD application rises from HK$100,000 to HK$150,000. The Easy BUD service pledge is 30 working days for approval; projects must be completed within 12 months with no upfront payment, suitable for small and medium projects such as websites, targeted market advertising and exhibitions.
| General Application | Easy BUD | E-commerce Easy BUD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap per application | HK$800,000 | HK$150,000 | HK$800,000 (cumulative HK$1 million per enterprise) |
| Approval time | 60 working days | 30 working days | — |
| Upfront payment | 20% | None | 20% |
| Target markets | Mainland China and 47 other economies | Mainland China and 47 other economies | Mainland China and the ten ASEAN countries only |
3. Funding Coverage Extended to 48 Economies
In 2026, 8 economies were added: Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Brazil. Together with Mainland China, the ten ASEAN countries, Japan, South Korea, the UK, several European countries and more, there are 48 in total. Projects must target these markets; purely local Hong Kong use is not eligible. See the full list by region on the BUD Special Fund page .
4. EMF Merged into BUD
The SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) was merged into BUD on 1 July 2026, and exhibition-related applications are now submitted through BUD. Enterprises that planned to apply for EMF must now prepare according to BUD rules.
5. More Targeted Funding for AI Projects
The government has announced more targeted funding for BUD projects with artificial intelligence (AI) elements, but the specific ratio and cap have not been announced; refer to HKPC announcements for details.
Outdated Information Commonly Found Online
- "Government funds 50%" → now 25%
- "Cap of HK$1 million per project" → now HK$800,000 for general applications
- "Upfront payment of 75%" → now 20%
- "Easy BUD cap of HK$100,000" → now HK$150,000
- "EMF operates independently" → merged into BUD on 1 July 2026
Next Steps
To find out whether you're eligible, start with the Funding Eligibility Self-Check; if you plan to build a website or online shop, use the Website × BUD Funding Match to estimate the funding amount; for website production, see our Web Design Services.
Sources: Trade and Industry Department BUD Special Fund page (updated 2 July 2026) and HKPC Easy BUD application guide (June 2026 edition). This article is for reference only and does not constitute professional advice; terms are subject to the latest announcements of TID and HKPC.