The Zhitong Finance App learned that on September 30, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced that banks participating in the Intellectual Property Financing Sandbox have completed the financing approval of seven pilot cases, covering the electronics, construction, toy manufacturing and medical equipment industries. The loan amount ranges from HK$1 million to HK$39 million for the daily operation, business development and marketing of the enterprise. The first batch of pilot cases demonstrated the potential of using intellectual property such as patents and trademarks to obtain financing, laying a practical foundation for consolidating Hong Kong's intellectual property asset financing ecosystem.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, together with the Commerce and Economic Development Council and the Intellectual Property Department, launched the Intellectual Property Financing Sandbox in December 2025, which was supported by the Hong Kong Association of Banks. Three major banks in Hong Kong were the first to join the sandbox to test intellectual property financing arrangements with corporate clients and professional service institutions in different industries in a risk-controlled environment. By incorporating intellectual property valuation reports provided by valuation agencies into the credit evaluation and approval process, banks can increase borrowers' loan amounts or give more favorable loan interest rates based on independent professional valuations, thereby enhancing the financing capacity of SMEs with rich intellectual property assets.
The first batch of pilot cases provided valuable practical experience for banks, valuation agencies and other relevant professional sectors. Sandbox participants also believe that the intellectual property financing ecosystem can be further improved in other aspects in the future, including strengthening support for IP-related expenses, optimizing intellectual property valuation processes, and enhancing market awareness and related professional capabilities.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority will continue to work closely with the Government, banking associations, the banking industry and other relevant stakeholders to promote Hong Kong's development as a regional intellectual property trading centre.