ENG-2019 — Page 138

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Commerce and Industry

Nurturing Talent and Facilitating Start-ups

Through the CSI, CreateHK supports the manpower development of creative industries and nurturing of start-ups.

The support is granted under regular arrangements including the Design Incubation Programme, which nurtures design start-ups; the Fashion Incubation Programme, which nurtures up-and-coming fashion designers; graduate programmes, which admit graduates for internships at digital advertising and digital entertainment companies; the Design Graduates Employment Supporting Scheme, which supports design graduates to undertake internships; the DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award, which selects winners to receive government funding to pursue work attachments or further studies overseas; the Unleash! Empowered by Design Thinking programme, which enhances awareness of design thinking and its application. across sectors; the Animation Support Programme, which funds start-ups and small companies to produce original animation; the Hong Kong Game Enhancement and Promotion Scheme, which supports game companies to develop marketing campaigns and enhance the quality and profitability of their products; the Support Programme for Advertising and Music Talents (Microfilm Production), which offers funding and mentorship to advertising production companies and directors; and the Ear Up Music Global programme, which funds singers and bands to participate in Mainland and overseas music festivals.

Creative talent is also sponsored to take part in advertising and short film events, such as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Exploring Markets

CreateHK supports the non-film creative sectors to bring high-value customers to Hong Kong, and takes local talent and products to Mainland and overseas markets. Examples of CSI-sponsored activities in 2019 included the Hong Kong Pavilion at international book fairs in Beijing, Guangzhou, Taipei, Frankfurt and Bologna; the promotion of local fashion brands and designers at Centrestage 2019 in Hong Kong; the sending of delegations of local designers to fashion weeks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Paris; and an architecture exhibition on projects by Hong Kong architects in the Greater Bay Area and B&R countries, held during the HKTDC's Think Asia, Think Hong Kong flagship promotional event in Los Angeles.

Delegation visits were also organised, including a digital entertainment delegation's trip to Malaysia and a design delegation's trip to Myanmar.

Promoting Hong Kong as Asia's Creative Capital

Hong Kong fosters collaboration with Mainland and overseas cities to raise the profile of its creative industries locally and internationally. The CSI provided $59.3 million for eight such projects in 2019.

A new project, 'Hong Kong Illustration X Original Design Brands Exhibition, was staged in Shanghai at Festival Hong Kong 2019 - A Cultural Extravaganza@Shanghai, which showcased illustration works and design brands created by Hong Kong's creative talent.

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