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Funding Services of the Science and Technology Development Fund

(Competent department: Science and Technology Development Fund)

 

Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D

In line with the Macao SAR government’s policies, multiple levels of funding categories have been established to support technology enterprises at different development stages in various types of technological research. This programme encourages collaboration between industry, academic and research institutions, promotes the transformation of applied research outcomes, and focuses on nurturing mature research achievements to enhance their contribution to the social and economic development of Macao.

The application categories and maximum amounts of funding are as follow:

  1. Matching Projects: The Scheme supports R&D projects initiated by successful matching with tertiary institutions via the “Industry-Academia-Research Matching Platform” of FDCT. The funding amount applied for this type shall not exceed MOP250,000, or MOP500,000 if the technology provider is a local tertiary institution.
  2. Non-certified Enterprises: The Scheme supports R&D projects carried out by enterprises that have not yet been accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), or have not yet been recognised as “enterprises engaged in technological innovation business” by the “Commission for the Review of Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business” as stipulated in Article 6 of the Policy of Tax Incentives for Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business (Law No. 1/2021). The funding amount for this type shall not exceed MOP1 million.
  3. Potential or Growing Technology Enterprises: The Scheme supports R&D projects carried out by “potential technology enterprises” and “growing technology enterprises” accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the DSEDT, or “enterprises engaged in technological innovation business” recognized by the “Commission for the Review of Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business” as stipulated in Article 6 of the Policy of Tax Incentives for Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business (Law No. 1/2021). The funding amount for this type shall not exceed MOP3 million.
  4. Key Technology Enterprises: The Scheme supports R&D projects carried out by “key technology enterprises” accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the DSEDT. The funding amount for this type shall not exceed MOP5 million.
  5. Key R&D Projects: The Scheme supports R&D projects carried out by “key technology enterprises” accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the DSEDT in collaboration with interdisciplinary and industry-academia-research strengths, with a focus on the transformation and cultivation of mature research results, to meet the needs of Macao’s moderate economic diversification. The funding amount for this type shall not exceed MOP20 million.

 

Funding Recipients: Commercial entrepreneurs or commercial enterprises registered in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

 

Eligibility:

  1. The application shall be made by the entity with legal personality referred to in the preceding paragraph about “funding recipient”. If an entity does not have a legal personality, the application shall be made through the entity with legal personality to which it belongs.
  2. The applicant shall not owe any tax or social security contributions to the Macao SAR.
  3. The applicants of Matching Projects and Non-certified Enterprises shall meet the following conditions:
  • The applicant shall be registered in the Macao Special Administrative Region for one year or more. For an incubating enterprise of the national-level maker space in Macao, the registration period can be less than one year.
  • The applicant has no less than three full-time employees. For an incubating enterprise of the national-level maker space in Macao, the number of full-time employees may be less than three.
  1. The Potential or Growing Technology Enterprise applicant shall meet any of the following conditions:
  • The applicant is a “potential technology enterprise” and “growing technology enterprise” accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the DSEDT.
  • The applicant is an “enterprise engaged in technological innovation business” recognised by the “Commission for the Review of Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business” as stipulated in Article 6 of the Policy of Tax Incentives for Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business (Law No. 1/2021).
  1. The Key Technology Enterprise applicant is required be a “key technology enterprise” accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the DSEDT.

 

For more details, please visit https://www.fdct.gov.mo/zh_tw/enterprise.html

 

 

Funding Scheme for External Science and Technology Co-operation

 

To support the positioning of Macao designated by the state and policy objectives of the Macao SAR Government, the scheme aims to enhance external exchanges and co-operation of Macao’s scientific and technological workers, promote Macao to become an international high-end talent cluster, and boost the scientific research co-operation, industry-university-research collaboration, and talent cultivation between Macao and foreign regions, so that Macao can make greater contribution to the external science and technology co-operation between China and foreign countries.

 

The application categories and maximum amounts of funding are as follow:

  1. Joint Funding Category: Joint funding provided based on documents such as joint funding agreement, memorandum of understanding and work plan signed between the FDCT and a foreign entity of a similar nature. The amount of funding applied for this type shall not exceed MOP5 million.
  2. International Collaboration Research Category: It provides funding for co-operative research projects with qualified foreign institutions. The maximum funding amount for this category is up to MOP5 million.

 

Funding Recipients

  1. Public higher education institutions or public medical institutions in the Macao SAR;
  2. Private higher education institutions established by law in the Macao SAR.
  3. Private non-profit-making entities established by law in the Macao SAR.
  4. Commercial entrepreneurs or commercial enterprises registered in the Macao SAR.

 

Eligibility:

  1. Entities with legal personality referred to in the preceding paragraph are eligible to apply for funding according to the application category.
  2. If an entity referred to in the preceding paragraph about “funding recipient” does not have a legal personality, the application shall be made through the entity with legal personality to which it belongs.
  3. If the funding recipient is a commercial entrepreneur or commercial enterprise referred to in section (4) of the preceding paragraph, and the application amount does not exceed MOP1 million, the following requirements shall also be met:
  • ​The commercial entrepreneur or commercial enterprise shall be registered in the Macao Special Administrative Region for one year or more. For incubating enterprises of the national-level maker space in Macao, the registration period can be less than one year.
  • There are no less than three full-time employees. If the number of full-time employees is less than three, recommendation by a national-level maker space established in Macao is required.
  1. ​If the funding recipient is a commercial entrepreneur or commercial enterprise referred to in section (4) of the preceding paragraph, and the application amount exceeds MOP1 million, any of the following qualifications shall also be met:
  • Enterprises accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).
  • “Enterprises engaged in technological innovation business” recognized by the “Commission for the Review of Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business” as stipulated in Article 6 of the Policy of Tax Incentives for Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business (Law No. 1/2021).
  1. Each research project must have a project leader who is responsible for leading and co-ordinating the project (project leader).
  2. For International Collaboration Research, the foreign collaborating institution must meet at least one of the following conditions:
  • Being among the top 200 in the latest comprehensive rankings by Times, QS, US News, or ARWU.
  • Being among the top 100 in any discipline in the latest rankings by Times, QS, US News, or ARWU.
  • Being a foreign enterprise listed in the latest Fortune Global 500.
  • Being a higher education institution, research institution, or business established in any Portuguese-speaking country member of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao).

 

For more details: https://www.fdct.gov.mo/zh_tw/external_cooperation.html

 

Funding Scheme for Macao Science and Technology R&D Talent

In line with the policy guidelines of the Macao SAR Government and with a view to supporting local residents engaged in R&D work, this scheme aims to attract outstanding Macao professionals in the science and technology sector to return, and bring in excellent scientific and technological talents to develop in Macao, so as to foster innovation in science and technology and promote the moderate diversification of Macao’s industries. The categories of application and maximum funding amounts are as follow:

 

  1. Enterprise R&D Talent Category: Support is provided for Macao residents to engage in R&D projects within local science and technology enterprises. The maximum funding amount for this category is MOP720,000.
  2. Postdoctoral Category: Support is provided for Macao residents to conduct research projects within the research systems of higher education institutions. The maximum funding amount for this category is MOP720,000.
  3. Talent Repatriation Category: Support is provided for outstanding Macao residents working in the science and technology sector outside Macao to return and engage in R&D projects in Macao. The maximum funding amount for this category is MOP5,000,000.
  4. Talent Introduction Category: Support is provided for the introduction of high-end and outstanding talents to carry out R&D projects in Macao. The maximum funding amount for this category is MOP5,000,000.

 

Funding Recipients:

  1. Public higher education institutions in the Macao Special Administrative Region.
  2. Private higher education institutions legally established in the Macao Special Administrative Region.
  3. Business operators or commercial enterprises registered in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

 

Eligibility:

  1. For Enterprise R&D Talent and Postdoctoral Categories:
  • Applications for the Enterprise R&D Talent category must be submitted by the employing enterprise, which must be:
  1. Certified under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).
  2. Recognised as “enterprises engaged in technological innovation business” by the “Commission for the Review of Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business” as stipulated in Article 6 of the Policy of Tax Incentives for Enterprises Engaged in Technological Innovation Business (Law No. 1/2021)
  • For the Postdoctoral category, applications must be submitted by the higher education institution employing the postdoctoral researcher as any of the “funding recipients” defined above.
  • If an entity referred to in the two preceding paragraphs does not have a legal personality, the application shall be made through the entity with legal personality to which it belongs.

 

  1. Talent Repatriation and Introduction Categories:
  • If the application is submitted by the higher education institutions mentioned in sections 1 and 2 of “Funding Recipients”, the relevant talent must be employed by those institutions.
  • If the application is submitted by the enterprises mentioned in section 3 of “Funding Recipients”, the enterprise must have been established for no more than one year from the application date, and the relevant talent must be a shareholder both at the time of establishment and at present.
  • If an entity referred to in the two preceding paragraphs does not have a legal personality, the application shall be made through the entity with legal personality to which it belongs.

 

For more details: https://www.fdct.gov.mo/zh_tw/stt.html

 

(Competent department: FDCT)