Applications to Conditions
  • Applicants and their respective companies must abide by all rules and regulations of the 8th Design Licensing and Business Support Scheme (DLAB).

    Submitting an application implies full understanding and acceptance of all terms and conditions outlined in this form and throughout the DLAB scheme.
  • The Organizer reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without prior notice. Any updates or matters not explicitly covered herein will be published on the official DLAB website. In the event of any dispute, the Organizer reserves the right to make the final decision.
  • The Organizer, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the HKSAR Government, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC, organizer of the Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2027) reserve the right to use, exhibit, publish, or authorize third parties to use any submitted entries in any format for non-commercial promotion and publicity, at no extra cost to participants. Usage is not limited strictly to DLAB promotion.
  • By participating, applicants implicitly agree to these regulations and grant the Organizer permission to authorize media publication of any submitted entries in any format.
  • The Organizer reserves the sole right to interpret and amend these terms and conditions.
Participation
  • The application deadline is 5:30pm on 20 November 2026.
  • Submitting an application grants the Organizer permission to publish information regarding the applicant and its designers on the official DLAB website.
  • Submitting the application means that the applicant allows the Organizer to upload the information on the applicant and its designers onto the DLAB’s official website.
  • Applicants must fully own all Intellectual Property (IP) rights to the submitted character designs or licensable IPs ("Submitted IPs"). Any discovered infringement of third-party rights will result in immediate disqualification.

    Submitted entries must not infringe upon the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)* of any party. The Organizer accepts no direct or indirect liability for copyright violations. Applicants agree to indemnify the Organizer against all claims, costs, actions, and liabilities arising from any alleged or actual IPR infringement.
* “Intellectual Property Rights” shall mean patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, design rights, copyright, domain names, database rights, rights in know-how, new inventions, designs or processes and other intellectual property rights of whatever nature and wheresoever arising, whether now known or hereafter created, and in each case whether registered or unregistered and including applications for the grant of any such rights.
Application Fee
  • Submission of an application implies that selected applicants ("participants") commit to attending all required project training sessions. Participants must submit a crossed cheque of HK$2,500 as a reservation fee to the Secretariat. This fee will be fully refunded if the participant achieves at least a 75% training attendance rate and fully occupies their assigned booth at the DLAB Hong Kong Pavilion; otherwise, the fee will be forfeited and allocated toward project operational expenses.

    Cheque payable to: Innovative Entrepreneur Association Company Limited

    Cheque submission: In person or Mail to below address:

    Attn: Secretariat of DLAB

    Address: 1/F, Teng Fu Commercial Building, 333 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

    Booths will be allocated by ballot, with details communicated via email. Final allocation decisions rest solely at the discretion of the Organizer. Forfeiting an assigned booth may negatively impact applications for future DLAB editions, and paid fees will not be refunded.
Result Announcement
  • The list of selected participants will be published on the official DLAB website. Selected participants will also receive formal written notification via email.
  • Selection results are subject to the final decision of the Vetting Panel and the Organizer, and shall be final and binding.
Typhoon and Black Rainstorm Signal Arrangement
  • Applicants must attend their interviews in person. If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above is hoisted, or a Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force at or after 7:00 AM on the interview date, all interviews scheduled for that day will be canceled.
  • If an interview is canceled due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the Organizer will notify the invited applicants. The Organizer reserves the right to make alternative assessment arrangements and is under no obligation to disclose the rationale.
Disqualification
  • Incomplete applications will be disqualified. The Organizer reserves the right to reject any application or disqualify any applicant/entry without prior notice.
  • Applicants must possess full ownership of the IP rights for all submitted works. Failure to demonstrate ownership will result in immediate disqualification without prior notice.
  • All provided information must be accurate and complete. Content within application forms (including textual and visual materials) must not infringe upon the copyright or intellectual property rights of any third party. Non-compliant applications will be disqualified without prior notice.
  • Any violation of these Terms & Conditions grants the Organizer the right to disqualify the application.
Personal Information Collection Statement
  • Personal data provided by applicants will be retained for record-keeping, administrative correspondence, and project promotion by the Organizer and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC, organizer of the Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2027). By submitting an application, applicants consent to the collection, retention, and use of their personal data for these purposes.
  • Applicants have the right to request access to and correction of their personal data in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Inquiries should be directed to the Project Secretariat at dlab.ieacms@gmail.com.  
Entry Information 

Download Application Form

Download Application Guideline

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About us
Objectives

Connect

Connect Hong Kong’s home-grown IP owners and character designers with potential partners and international buyers on licensing and hence facilitating IP commercialization

Promote

Promote entrepreneurship and start-ups spirits for the youth through facilitating their development and expansion of licensing business and necessary knowledge, which in turn will help cultivate and enhance creativity for the future of Hong Kong

Reinforce

Reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the IP-trading and Licensing Hub of Asia
Benefits
The 30 Hong Kong character designers / owners of licensable design content IPs / small and medium-sized design companies who / which are selected to participate in the 8th DLAB (the participants)will receive:
Local character designers / designers and companies with licensable design IPs are eligible.
  • Receive sponsorship to set up a 6 square meter booth in the Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2027 at a rental of HK$4,000 for new participants or HK$6,000 for past participants (original rental is HK$31,521)1
  • Free participation in comprehensive training on marketing, business operations and brand building, etc.2
  • Free consultation by programme advisors who are industry experts.
  • Free business matching and sales pitching sessions.
  • Free promotion of the participants’ designs in the channels under the DLAB (such as advertisements/ advertorials in newspapers, internet, social platforms and websites, etc.)
  • Join the study mission to Greater Bay Area at special price.
  • The booths will be allocated to the participants by drawing lots by the DLAB Organizer. Participants will be notified by separate emails on the arrangement of the ballot.
  • Each participant has to pay a reservation fee of HK$2,500 for the DLAB training. The reservation fee will be refunded to the participants if their attendance rate at these events reaches 75% and they have full participation in the assigned booth of DLAB Hong Kong pavilion at the HKILS, or else the fee will be forfeited and used as project operational income.
Timetable

Main Tasks / Events

Date

Call for Applications

21 September 2026

Online Project Briefing

29 October & 12 November 2026

Deadline of Applications

20 November 2026

Announcement of Interview Details

25 - 27 November 2026

Interviews to Select Participants

8 December 2026

Announcement of Vetting Results

18 December 2026

Briefing to 30 Selected Participants

23 December 2026

Kick-Off Ceremony

Early January 2027

GBA study mission (2 days)

Mid-January 2027

Online Trainings

February – March 2027

Program Advisor Network Service to Participants

February – April 2027

Drawing of Ballots for Allocation of Booths at Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2027

March 2027

Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2027(Business Matching will be arranged during the physical show period from 27 to 29 April 2027)

Physical Exhibition 27 – 29 April 2027
Online Exhibition 20 April – 7 May 2027

Eligibility

Tier 1

Tier 2

Companies with a history of not more than 6 years, as at the application deadline (i.e. established within period from 20 Nov 2020 to 20 Nov 2026) and with design or licensing as the major business

Companies with a history of 6 years to not more than 12 years, as at the application deadline (i.e. established within period from 20 November 2014 to 19 November 2020) and with design or licensing as the major business

Registered in Hong Kong with a valid Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate

Registered in Hong Kong with a valid Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate

The submitted intellectual property (IP) should be launched in not more than 6 years, as at the application deadline

The submitted IP should be launched in not more than 6 years, as at the application deadline

Have full ownership of the IP right of the creative content, such as original character designs, pattern designs, illustrations, etc.

Have full ownership of the IP right of the creative content, such as original character designs, pattern designs, illustrations, etc.

Tier 1

Tier 2

Companies with a history of not more than 6 years, as at the application deadline (i.e. established within period from 7 Nov 2017 to 6 Nov 2023) and with design or licensing as the major business

Companies with a history of not more than 12 years, as at the application deadline (i.e. established within period from 7 Nov 2011 to 6 Nov 2023) and with design or licensing as the major business

Registered in Hong Kong with a valid Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate

Registered in Hong Kong with a valid Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate

The submitted intellectual property (IP) should be launched in not more than 6 years, as at the application deadline

The submitted IP should be launched in not more than 6 years, as at the application deadline

Have full ownership of the IP right of the creative content, such as original character designs, pattern designs, illustrations, etc.

Have full ownership of the IP right of the creative content, such as original character designs, pattern designs, illustrations, etc.

*The submitted IP can be original character design, pattern design, illustration design, etc.
Vetting Criteria
The vetting panel members will evaluate the applications with the below criteria:
  • Originality and creativity of the submitted IP
  • Business potential of the submitted IP
  • Business track record and business development plan on the submitted IP
  • Commitment of the applying companies’ professional team on developing the submitted IP
  • Creativity to IP development in the past one year (only applicable to participants of the past editions of DLAB which also applies for the 8th DLAB with the same IP submitted to the past DLAB)
Vetting Procedures
  • Upon receipt, the Secretariat will check all applications for completeness.
  • All eligible applications will be submitted to the Vetting Panel for consideration. All applicants must attend a 10 minute interview on 8 December 2026 to present their submission and answer questions from the Panel. Applicants should reserve this date.
  • Interview schedules and additional details will be announced by the Organizer in late November 2026. The Vetting Panel is composed of representatives from the Organizer, industry professionals, renowned designers, licensing experts, and educational institutions.
  • All applicants will receive an email regarding their result on or before 18 December 2026, regardless of whether they are selected.
Vetting Mechanism
  • Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements.
  • The Vetting Committee will establish a passing score subject to their discussion and agreement. Applicants who achieve or exceed this threshold demonstrate that their IPs/designs possess market potential and are licensable, allowing them to advance to the next stage of the selection process.
  • Priority is given to applicants who have participated less frequently in past DLAB editions. Conversely, applicants with higher past participation will receive lower selection priority.
  • Each company is permitted to participate in DLAB a maximum of three times.
Application Method
  • Applicants must read the “Application Guidelines” before completing the form.
  • Forms must be typed. The completed and signed application form must be submitted in Word and PDF format via the official website (www.dlab.hk).
  • The signed completed application form and all supporting materials must be uploaded to the online submission platform before 5:30pm on 20 Nov 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

Download Application Form

Download Application Guideline

Click here to view terms & conditions
Contact
Secretariat of Design Licensing and Business (DLAB) Support Scheme
Contact Person  
Ms. Yannie Law
Tel
‍(852) 2363 6012
Email
‍dlab.ieacms@gmail.com  
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Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
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