I. Objectives

To align with the policy address of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Science and Technology Development Fund (hereinafter referred to as the “FDCT”) is to launch the Funding Scheme for Innovation and Research of Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the “Scheme”) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the current Public Financial Aid System of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Statutes of the Fund for the Development of Science and Technology, and the Funding Regulations of the Science and Technology Development Fund. The Scheme aims to support enterprises of Macao to implement innovative research and development, foster a research and development atmosphere among enterprises, promote investment in research and development by enterprises, boost closer industry-academia-research cooperation, accelerate the transformation of research results, cultivate emerging industries, and drive appropriate economic diversification.

II. Types of Projects and Maximum Amount of Funding

Projects are divided into three types by application amount:
1. Type A: The application amount is less than MOP1 million.
2. Type B: The application amount is more than MOP1 million and less than MOP3 million.
3. Type C: The application amount is more than MOP3 million and less than MOP5 million.

III. Funding Recipients, Application Eligibility and Relevant Conditions

1. Funding recipients: Commercial entrepreneurs or commercial enterprises.
2. Application eligibility:
    Commercial entrepreneurs or commercial enterprises that fulfill the following conditions are eligible to submit application:
    1) Commercial entrepreneurs or commercial enterprises registered in the Macao SAR for one year or more.
    2) Commercial entrepreneurs or commercial enterprises do not owe any tax or social security contributions to the Macao SAR.
3. For Type A projects, the applicant shall also meet the following conditions:
    1) Enterprises having no less than three full-time employees.
    2) In case of full-time employees less than three, the applying entity shall be recommended by a nation-level makerspace established in Macao.
4. For Types B or C projects, the applicant shall also meet the following conditions:
    1) Commercial entrepreneurs or commercial enterprises having no less than five full-time employees.
    2) 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) or enterprises accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).
5. Each research project must have a project leader who is responsible for leading and coordinating the project.

IV. Type and Scope of Funding

1. The funding type of the Scheme is non-reimbursable.
2. Scope of funding: Projects in line with the purpose of the FDCT and the objectives of the Scheme.
3. Priority shall be given to:
    1) Among Types B and C projects, priority will be given to scientific research projects that are in line with the policies such as the Second Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macao Special Administrative Region (2021-2025), the Development Plan for Appropriate Economic Diversification of the Macao Special Administrative Region (2024-2028), the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2024, and the relevant plans and programs of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Such projects, in particular, include R&D or achievement transformation platforms that can promote traditional Chinese medicine, integrated circuits, electronic components, Internet of Things, big data, AI, new energy, space science, advanced materials and biomedicine.
    2) Enterprises accredited under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).

V. Supporting Input

Applicants shall invest supporting R&D funds, which shall not be less than the amount funded by the FDCT.

VI. Funding Duration

The funding duration of the Scheme shall not exceed three years.

VII. Result Requirements

1. The expected results shall include outputs such as software, hardware (prototypes, samples), technical standards, formulations, new materials, and new processes, and the economic or social benefits that will be brought about by the implementation of the project shall also be stated.
2. At the time of project closure, the technology maturity of Type A projects shall be at Level 4 or above, and the technology maturity of Type B projects shall be at Level 5 or above, and the technology maturity of Type C projects shall be at Level 6 or above .

VIII. Submission of Application

The application shall be made via the Online Funding Application System of the FDCT.
For the application and use of the online funding application system, please refer to the Scientific Research Funding.
1. Applicants shall prepare applications in any of the official languages of the Macao SAR or in English.
2. Applicants who have applied for an electronic signature shall submit the application documents via the online application system of the FDCT on or before the deadline.
3. Applicants who have not applied for electronic signature shall, in addition to submitting the application documents via the online application system of the FDCT on or before the deadline, deliver the signed and stamped application documents to the FDCT.

IX. Assessment Methods and Criteria

1. Before accepting an application, the Administrative Committee of FDCT shall invite five to seven advisors from the list of project advisors to form the Project Advisory Committee.
2. The application documents that may enter the review process will be submitted to the Project Advisory Committee formed by FDCT for review according to the review elements and criteria in the following paragraph.
3. Review elements and criteria:
    1)  Qualifications of the applicant, including scientific research foundation of the team, industry-academia-research cooperation, quality and number of members, and research conditions.
    2)  Project planning, including the evaluation of work plan, the reasonableness of budget arrangements, and the project feasibility.
    3)  Evaluation of technology and results, including economic or social benefits, technical level, and actual application scenarios.
4. The Administrative Committee of the FDCT may invite external experts to review specific or more complex funding applications.
5. FDCT may conduct site inspection to verify the research conditions of the applying entity, interview with the project team and partners (if any) as necessary.

Download

Items
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D (Second Round of Application of 2024)	Download
General Guidelines for Project Management of the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao Special Administrative Region (March 2024)	Download
Industry Classification of Macao	Download
Application Form for Changes in Scientific Research Projects	Download
Declaration for Opening an Account in the Application System for Scientific Research Project Funding	Download
School/Association/Institution Project Managers Registration Form	Download
Enterprise Innovation and R&D Funding Projects -- Annual Report Form	Download
Enterprise Innovation and R&D Funding Projects -- Final Report Form	Download
Science and Technology Development Fund Guidelines on Agreed-Upon Procedures for Scientific Research Projects (for projects funded since 2023)	Download
Science and Technology Development Fund Agreed-upon Procedures Report Template (for projects funded since 2023)	Download

Download for the Past Funding Schemes

Items
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D (Applicable to projects applied in the first round of application of 2024)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D (Applicable to projects applied in 2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D - Application Guidelines for Projects Type A (1st Round of 2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D - Application Guidelines for Projects Type A (2nd Round of 2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D - Application Guidelines for Projects Type A (3rd Round of 2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D - Application Guidelines for Projects Type B (1st Round of 2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D - Application Guidelines for Projects Type B (2nd Round of 2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D - Application Guidelines for Projects Type B (3rd Round of 2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D - Application Guidelines for Projects Type C (2023)	Download
Funding Scheme for Enterprise Innovation and R&D (Applicable only for Projects in 2021)	Download
Industry Classification of Macao	Download
Application Form for Changes in Scientific Research Projects	Download
Enterprise Innovation and R&D Funding Projects -- Annual Report Form	Download
Enterprise Innovation and R&D Funding Projects -- Final Report Form ​(Applicable only for Projects in 2021)	Download
Declaration for Opening an Account in the Application System for Scientific Research Project Funding	Download
School/Association/Institution Project Managers Registration Form	Download
Bank Account Information for Special Fund	Download
Funding Guidelines (Applicable Only for Projects in 2019)	Download