HKICPA welcomes Government's launch of Pilot Patent Valuation Support Scheme; HKICPA members recognized as qualified valuers to help SMEs unlock IP asset value

The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA or the Institute) welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government's launch of the Pilot Patent Valuation Support Scheme (Pilot Scheme), announced today by the Intellectual Property Department (IPD). The Institute has actively advocated for and promoted the professional development of business valuation, viewing it as a key element in building Hong Kong into a professional services hub. The Institute believes the Pilot Scheme will help open up IP financing channels and strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a regional intellectual property trading centre.

The two-year Pilot Scheme aims to assist eligible local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in conducting valuations of patents and other intellectual property (IP) assets, thereby providing objective valuation data to support their access to credit financing. By facilitating the utilisation of IP assets as a financing tool, the Scheme seeks to unlock the commercial value of innovation and foster the growth of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem.

Stephen Law, HKICPA President, said: “Intellectual property plays an increasingly important role in driving innovation and economic growth. Professional and credible valuation is a cornerstone of the commercialization and capitalization of IP, and the Institute remains committed to promoting and enhancing the development of the business valuation profession. The Pilot Scheme will help build a more supportive environment for IP valuation and financing in Hong Kong, enabling innovative enterprises to make better use of their intangible assets. We will continue to lead the profession to 'price' and 'add value' to corporate intangible assets with high-quality valuation services, fully supporting Hong Kong's development of new quality productive forces and the innovation and technology ecosystem.”

Under the Pilot Scheme, the IPD recognizes qualified valuers nominated by designated professional bodies, including HKICPA members with relevant experience. As a statutory professional body in Hong Kong, the Institute has demonstrated its support for the Scheme by having earlier conducted a survey among its members and compiled a list of members who, based on the information provided, appear to meet the eligibility requirements set out under the Scheme. This initial list may be expanded over time.

The list has been published on the Institute’s website, and on the official websites of IPD and the Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Support Centre (HKTISC), as a reference for SMEs seeking valuation professionals for patent and other IP assets.

The Institute remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and supporting initiatives that enhance Hong Kong’s economic development. Leveraging the profession’s expertise in valuation and business advisory services, HKICPA will further harness the accounting profession's strengths in business valuation, collaborating with the industry and stakeholders to advance Hong Kong's intellectual property ecosystem and the overall development of innovation-led industries.

^{The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government's launch of the Pilot Patent Valuation Support Scheme as a significant step towards promoting intellectual property (IP) financing and strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a regional IP trading centre.}