Moderate Economic Diversification: Optimizing the Foundation of Industry-University-Research Cooperation to Facilitate the Transformation of Achievements and the Development of the Science and Technology industry
22/11/2022
To promote the development of the science and technology industry and the moderate diversification of the economy, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) and the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) work closely to optimize the foundation of industry-university-research cooperation from multiple dimensions and facilitate the establishment of a model for the transformation of achievements.

Strengthen Cross-departmental Collaboration and Build A Foundation for Industry-University-Research Development

In early 2021, the SAR government completed the reorganization of and added a Technology Department in DSEDT, and revised FDCT’s administrative regulations to form an upstream and downstream relationship in the technological innovation chain and bolster the industrialization of scientific research results. The two departments have also established a working group to jointly encourage and support high-quality local science and technology enterprises and state key laboratories to carry out industry-university-research cooperation, utilizing the scientific research resources of higher education institutions to support the long-term development of Macao’s science and technology enterprises.

So far, the two departments have facilitated a number of local science and technology enterprises engaged in integrated circuit design, network security, artificial intelligence, and the organization of enterprise networks to carry out industry-university-research cooperation projects with local higher education institutions, helping Macao to fully leverage its scientific research advantages and integrate into the collaborative and innovative development of the Greater Bay Area’s “Industry-University-Research Unification”.

In December last year, the University of Macau (UM) and the team of academician Zhong Nanshan jointly established the “Macau Institute for Translational Medicine and Innovation”, with the promotion of the SAR government. The research institute is currently following up on the transformation of several Chinese medicine projects, assisting them in improving their standards, providing services such as registration counseling, and helping the projects to be launched on the market.

Strengthen the Industry-University-Research Matching to Assist With the Development of Science and Technology Enterprises

To help address the technical needs of Macao enterprises and improve their ability to carry out research and development and undertake upstream scientific research achievements, FDCT established an “Online Industry-University-Research Matching Platform” in the second half of 2021, and launched a “Funding Scheme for Industry-University-Research Partnership for Enterprises”. As of October this year, 123 new registered users, 194 technology supplies and 32 technical needs have been added to the matching platform; whereas 24 projects have been successfully matched, 19 of which have applied for matching and funding and 11 have been approved.

FDCT also offers opportunities for the transformation of scientific research achievements and industry-university-research cooperation through carrying out matchmaking sessions and roadshows. The “Industry-University-Research Collaboration Roadshow and Matchmaking Meeting Between Mainland China and Macao” has been held for two consecutive years. In this year’s matchmaking meeting, local enterprises with 25 scientific research achievements and more than 60 mainland enterprises participated. More than 140 meetings and negotiations were organized, in which 32 groups signed letters of intent for cooperation.

Strengthen Precise Support and Direction

FDCT actively adjusts the direction of funding, focusing on supporting application projects and projects that are expected to be implemented in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. In addition, accurate funding was realized through the implementation of classified reviews, the establishment of a project evaluation system with technology readiness levels (TRLs) as the core, and the selection of outstanding results for key transformation and cultivation, etc. The proportion of funded applied research projects, upon the adjustment, has recorded a sharp increase, accounting for more than 80%, mainly involving the fields of the big health, information technology, engineering, and materials.

Facilitate the Establishment of Portuguese-speaking Science and Technology Enterprises in the Greater Bay Area

This year, DSEDT organized activities such as the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Macao) for Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal” and the “Roadshows for Science and Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal” to build connections between Portuguese-speaking enterprises and relevant institutions in Macao and cities in the Greater Bay Area to explore the feasibility of industry-university-research cooperation and project implementation, and provide opportunities for Brazilian and Portuguese science and technology enterprises to connect and display their projects.

Looking into the future, DSEDT and FDCT will take further steps to closely cooperate, accelerate the optimization of Macao’s scientific and technological innovation system, bolster the further development of the scientific research platform, improve the supporting mechanism of achievements transformation and promote the deep industry-university-research integration, thereby boosting the development of the moderate diversification of the economy.

The unveiling ceremony of the “Macau Institute for Translational Medicine and Innovation”

FDCT organizes the “Industry-University-Research Collaboration Roadshow and Matchmaking Meeting Between Mainland China and Macao”


DSEDT organizes the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Macao) for Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal”


 
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