Funding Scheme for Research and Innovation
Demand Driving

In alignment with the policy directives of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the existing Public Financial Support System of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Statutes of the Science and Technology Development Fund, and the Regulations on Funding by the Science and Technology Development Fund, the Science and Technology Development Fund (hereinafter referred to as the FDCT) has launched the Research and Innovation Funding Programme (hereinafter referred to as the Programme). Through funding support for different stages of the innovation chain, the Programme aims to assist research institutions and researchers in Macao in conducting in-depth scientific and technological research, continuously enhancing research capacity and fostering original innovation, thereby maintaining the leading position of Macao’s key academic disciplines. At the same time, the Programme supports industry-academia-research collaboration and the transformation of research outcomes, encourages the production of applied research results, fosters innovation and entrepreneurship among research teams, and enhances the contribution of scientific and technological innovations to Macao’s social and economic development.

Back to Top
 

Applied research projects to meet the needs of the Macao SAR Government or the needs of enterprises. The amount of funding applied for this type shall not exceed MOP5 million.

Back to Top

 

If an entity does not have a legal personality, the application shall be made through the entity with legal personality to which it belongs.

Back to Top
 

1. Each research project must have a project leader who is responsible for leading and coordinating the project (hereinafter referred to as "project leader").
2. The requirements for the expected research results are set out in the relevant guidelines.

 

The Administrative Committee of the FDCT organizes experts to compile application guidelines for the projects supported under this type every year in terms of technical areas, research objectives, research directions, assessment indicators, funding period and supporting funds required based on the needs of the Macao SAR Government or the needs of enterprises.
Application Guidelines for the Demand-Driven Applications (2025 Edition)

Back to Top

April 23, 2025, to May 23, 2025

Back to Top

 

1. The Scheme is a non-reimbursable financial assistance.
2. Scope of funding: Projects in line with the purpose of the FDCT and the objectives of the Scheme.

 

IX. Priority Support

X. Supporting Input for Collaborative Research

1. It is necessary to collaborate with commercial enterprises, such commercial enterprises shall provide supporting inputs according to the relevant requirements of the application guidelines.
2. The supporting inputs shall meet the requirements of Expenditure Eligible for Funding.

 

XI. Expenditure Eligible for Funding

1. The expenditure eligible for funding includes the following expenses incurred for the implementation of the project:
   1. Personnel expenses.
   2. Expenses on acquiring the necessary new machinery and equipment by any means.
   3. Expenses on consumable materials, reagents, and equipment maintenance.
   4. Direct costs of patent application.
   5. Other derivative expenses.
2. Other derivative expenses referred to in e of the preceding paragraph do not include:
   1. Expense on the establishment of the recipient entity.
   2. Electricity, water, telephone charge and other expenses of a similar nature.
   3. Entertainment.
   4. Audit fee.
   5. Expense on the acquisition of vehicles, except for experimental purposes.
   6. Expense on construction, acquisition and repayment of real estate by installments.
   7. Other expenditures ineligible for funding as stipulated in the General Guidelines for Project Management of the Science and Technology Development Fund, the approval decision and the consent of funding.

 

XII. Application Documents

1. The applicant's identification information and relevant supporting documents.
2. A document issued by the competent authority in the last three months certifying that the applicant does not owe any tax or social security contributions to the Macao SAR.
3. Information on other projects financed by public funds and other pending applications submitted by the same applicant for the purpose of applying for the funding.
4. Identification information and curriculum vitae of the project leader and members, as well as information on the time allocated to the implementation of the project.
5. An application proposal containing a detailed description of the project, which shall set out in detail the estimated amount of the project.
6. A statement of responsibility for the project.
7. A cooperation agreement or memorandum of understanding or letter of intent signed with the cooperating party (if any).
8. Other materials required by the application guidelines (if any).

 

XIII. Submission of Application

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 (during office hours).
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 (during office hours), deliver the signed and stamped application documents to the FDCT.

 

XIV. Preliminary Analysis

1. The FDCT will conduct a preliminary analysis of the application documents after the application deadline, respectively, to verify whether the application has the required documents under the Scheme and whether the applicant meets the conditions for funding approval.
2. If the documents required for the application are not sufficient, the FDCT will request the applicant to supplement materials within 15 days, if necessary.
3. Applications under any of the following circumstances will not be accepted for review and will be rejected by the FDCT, and the relevant applicant will be notified by letter:
   1. The applicant does not meet the requirements of Article 4 of the Scheme.
   2. The applicant is on the list of mandatory levies and overdue returns of the FDCT.
   3. The applicant is a debtor to the treasury of the Macao SAR.
   4. The application conditions do not meet the requirements of Article 5
   5. The number of active research projects undertaken by the project leader exceeds the maximum number of active research projects that the project leader can undertake under the FDCT.
   6. The project leaders cannot submit a new application for funding.
   7. Multiple applications for the same project are submitted at the same time or the same project has been funded by the FDCT before.
   8. The supporting input (if any) does not meet the requirements of Article 9.
   9. The application documents do not meet the requirements of Article 11.
   10. The applicant fails to supplement or promptly submit relevant application materials after notification.
   11. The applicant violates existing laws and regulations or fails to protect the safety and legal rights and interests of participants.

 

XV. Assessment Method 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. Assessment of technology and results.
   2. Eligibility of the applicant.
   3. Project plan.
4. The Administrative Committee of FDCT may formulate specific assessment criteria based on the above review elements.
5. The Administrative Committee of the FDCT may invite external experts to review specific or more complex funding applications.
6. FDCT may conduct site inspection to verify the research conditions of the applicant, interview with the project team and partners (if any) as necessary.

 

XVI. Funding Approval

1. For a project application not exceeding MOP1 million, the Administrative Committee of the FDCT will make a decision after considering the analysis of the application documents and the review opinions.
2. For a project application exceeding MOP1 million, the FDCT will supervise the entity and make a decision on the application after considering the analysis of the application documents and the review opinions.
3. The recipients shall sign the Consent of Funding attached to the approval letter within the time limit to declare that they are aware of and will comply with the approval decision as set out in the approval notice.
4. The funds will be disbursed by installments in the manner as described in the Consent of Funding.

 

XVII. Funding Term

XVIII. Requirements for Output

XIX. For reports, agreed procedures, obligations of beneficiaries, consequences of non-compliance, circumstances of potential penalties, refunding and restitution of grants, administrative, civil, and criminal liabilities, monitoring, appeals, personal data processing, and other important considerations, please refer to the Funding Scheme for Research and Innovation.  

XX. Download

Document Name
Funding Scheme for Research and Innovation
Application Guidelines for the Demand-Driven Applications (2025 Edition)
Assessment Indicators and Explanations