HONG KONG, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Organized by the Innovative Entrepreneur Association ("IEA") and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency ("CCIDA"), the Design Licensing and Business (DLAB) Support Scheme held its 7th edition’s Kick-Off Ceremony today at the United Centre in Admiralty, announcing the 39 selected local design companies for the 7th DLAB Support Scheme. These companies span a wide range of creative sectors and represent the new generation of Hong Kong’s design talent. Through the scheme, they will receive training, professional consultancy, and business matching opportunities to further expand their brand licensing potential.
Group picture of the selected 39 local design companies and guests for the seventh DLAB.
The organiser is honoured to have Miss. Yvonne IP Man Yee, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, as the Guest of Honour and to give a speech. She was joined by Mr. Zacharias CHENG, President of IEA, Ms. Cherrie CHONG, former President of IEA, Mr Cyril CHEUNG, Vice President of IEA and Ellen MOK, General Secretary of IEA, to officiate at the launch ceremony. Guests and representatives from the 39 selected companies gathered for a group photo, marking a vibrant and celebratory moment. The event also featured a keynote sharing by Mr. Samuel CHOY, General Manager of Bliss Concept Ltd, who explored the latest trends in design licensing. In addition, the alumni of previous DLAB cohorts shared their success stories, offering valuable inspiration and practical insights to this year’s participants.
Since the 1st edition, DLAB has successfully supported over 300 local design companies, driving the development of Hong Kong’s design licensing industry. The scheme provides professional training in marketing, brand building, and business operations, along with professional consultancy and business matching services, helping enterprises seize licensing opportunities and expand into the Chinese Mainland and international markets.
For its 7th edition this year, the scheme offers two application categories:
- Category 1: Companies established for no more than 6 years (between November 6, 2019, and November 5, 2025), primarily engaged in design or licensing, with IP launched for no more than 6 years. Applicants must have full ownership of the IP rights of the creative content, such as original character designs, pattern designs, illustrations, etc.
- Category 2: Companies established for 6 to 12 years (between November 6, 2013 and November 5, 2025), with IP launched for no more than 6 years. Applicants must have full ownership of the IP rights of the creative content, such as original character designs, pattern designs, illustrations, etc.
Selected companies will have their participation in the late-January 2026 Greater Bay Area Study Mission fully subsidised, strengthening ties with Mainland enterprises and exploring the market potential. In addition, they will also enjoy a preferential booth at a special rate of HK$4,000 for first-time DLAB participants and HK$6,000 for returning companies – to showcase at the DLAB Hong Kong Pavilion of the Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2026, held from April 27 to 29, 2026. They will present their creative achievements alongside over 600 international and local IPs, further enhancing Hong Kong design’s global visibility.
Mr. Zacharias CHENG, President of IEA, stated at the launch ceremony, "DLAB has now reached its seventh edition, witnessing the continuous growth of Hong Kong’s design industry. This year, for the first time, we are proud to announce the 39 selected companies, representing a new generation of creative power. Through training, exchange opportunities, and exhibition platforms, we hope these brands will go further, connect seamlessly with international markets, and showcase Hong Kong’s spirit of originality to a
broader global stage".
For more details of the 7th DLAB, please visit www.dlabhk.com.
About Innovative Entrepreneur Association (IEA)
Innovative Entrepreneur Association is a non-profit making organisation, with the aim to foster the spirit of "Innovative Entrepreneurship" in Hong Kong, the Mainland and all over the world. With the cooperation with the government and other organisations, IEA helps the start-up companies acquire more experience and strategies in order to enhance their competitiveness. IEA always strives to promote Hong Kong as world-leading "Creative and Entrepreneurial Capital".
Website: http://www.iea.org.hk.
DLAB Logo
There are four letters in the logo of DLAB, "D" stands for Design, "L" stands of Licensing, "A" is And while "B" is the short form of "Business".
About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024. CCIDA is a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Website: https://www.ccidahk.gov.hk.
Event Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1S2jERf8jv-FJRhcWxeJf1HIOP6JMTFCo?usp=drive_link