Funding Scheme of Macao for Science and Technology R&D Talent
Application Period： 16 October 2024 to 15 November 2024
I. Objective
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 of Macao for Science and Technology R&D Talent (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 aim is to enhance the development of science and technology R&D talent in Macao, attract Macao talents from abroad, support these talents in conducting R&D at higher education institutions and technology enterprises in Macao, promote innovation, and foster appropriate diversification of Macao’s economy.
II. Funding Recipients, Application Eligibility, and Relevant Conditions
Funding Recipients
(1) Public higher education institutions in the Macao SAR.
(2) Private higher education institutions established under Macao law.
(3) Enterprises certified under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (“DSEDT”) (hereinafter referred to as “Technology Enterprises”).
(4)Enterprises “engaged in science, technology, and innovation business” recognized by the “Commission for the Review of Enterprises Engaged in Science, Technology, and Innovation Business” as stipulated in Article 6 of the Tax Incentive Scheme for Science, Technology and Innovation Business (Law No. 1/2021) (hereinafter referred to as “Technology Enterprises”).
I. Objective
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 of Macao for Science and Technology R&D Talent (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 aim is to enhance the development of science and technology R&D talent in Macao, attract Macao talents from abroad, support these talents in conducting R&D at higher education institutions and technology enterprises in Macao, promote innovation, and foster appropriate diversification of Macao’s economy.
II. Funding Recipients, Application Eligibility, and Relevant Conditions
Funding Recipients
(1) Public higher education institutions in the Macao SAR.
(2) Private higher education institutions established under Macao law.
(3) Enterprises certified under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (“DSEDT”) (hereinafter referred to as “Technology Enterprises”).
(4)Enterprises “engaged in science, technology, and innovation business” recognized by the “Commission for the Review of Enterprises Engaged in Science, Technology, and Innovation Business” as stipulated in Article 6 of the Tax Incentive Scheme for Science, Technology and Innovation Business (Law No. 1/2021) (hereinafter referred to as “Technology Enterprises”).
- Application Eligibility
(1) Commercial entrepreneurs or entities with legal personality as described above are eligible to apply (hereinafter referred to as Applicants).
(2) If the entity does not have legal personality, the application must be made through the entity with legal personality to which it belongs. - Classification and Conditions of Science and Technology R&D Talents under the Scheme
(1) For applications made by higher education institutions, R&D talents must meet the following conditions for post-doctoral fellows:- Hold a Macao Resident Identity Card.
- Have obtained a PhD degree from a government-recognized university in Macao or abroad within the past five years.
- Have experience in academic research or the transformation of research outcomes in the field of science and technology.
- Have been employed for less than six months as of the application date or have yet to formally join but have agreed to do so within one year after the grant is approved.
- (2) For applications made by technology enterprises, R&D talents must meet the following conditions:
- Hold a Macao Resident Identity Card.
- Have obtained a PhD or Master's degree in science and technology from a government-recognized university in Macao or abroad.
- Have been employed for less than six months as of the application date or have yet to formally join but have agreed to do so within one year after the grant is approved.
- Must not be a shareholder of the technology enterprise.
- Projects conducted by R&D talents must meet the following requirements:
(1) Projects must align with the Macao SAR's Second Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2021-2025), the Development Plan for Appropriate Economic Diversification (2024-2028), the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2024, and relevant plans and proposals for the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Projects should focus on promoting industries such as traditional Chinese medicine, integrated circuits, electronic components, Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, new energy, space science, advanced materials, and biomedicine.
(2) Each project must have one supervisor or coordinator to oversee the R&D talent’s progress. The supervisor or coordinator must meet the following conditions:- For higher education institutions, the supervisor must be a faculty member, hold a position of at least associate professor, and directly guide the R&D talent.
- For technology enterprises, the coordinator must be a staff member responsible for coordinating the R&D talent’s activities.
- Only one R&D talent per project may apply for the stipend.
- III. Type and Scope of Funding
- This Scheme provides non-reimbursable financial aid.
- Scope of funding: Stipends for qualified R&D talents.
- IV. Quota of Funding
- The Scheme provides funding for up to 65 individuals, with:
(1) No more than 15 post-doctoral fellows at higher education institutions.
(2) No more than 50 R&D talents at technology enterprises, with no more than 10 being PhD holders. - The number of R&D talents funded for any technology enterprise must not exceed one-third of the total number of employees holding degrees in the technology field. The maximum number of funded talents per enterprise is:
(1) Five for key enterprises.
(2) Three for growth enterprises.
(3) Two for potential enterprises.
(4) Three for enterprises recognized under the tax incentives for technology enterprises.
- The Scheme provides funding for up to 65 individuals, with:
- V. Application Dossier
The application dossier must include the following documents:- Identification documents and supporting materials for the applicant.
- If the applicant is a commercial entrepreneur or enterprise, a business registration certificate issued within the last three months and a copy of the latest annual tax return (M1) must be submitted.
- A certificate issued within the last three months by the competent authority confirming that the applicant has no outstanding taxes or social security contributions in Macao SAR.
- Details of other projects and pending applications receiving public funding.
- Identification, academic certificates, CV, and proof of accomplishments of the R&D talent.
- Identification and CV of the supervisor or coordinator, with an explanation of their time commitment to the project.
- For technology enterprises, a list of at least two employees holding degrees in the technology field, not including the R&D talent applying for the stipend, and their academic certificates. This list must not overlap with other applications.
- A copy of the employment contract or the proposed contract for the R&D talent, specifying their position and monthly salary.
- The project proposal, including requested funding, personnel, project plan, and timeline.
VI. Submission of Applications- Applicants must submit the application in one of the official languages of the Macao Special Administrative Region or in English.
- The application documents mentioned above must be submitted to the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) on or before the deadline.
- VII. Evaluation Method and Criteria
- Prior to accepting applications, the Administrative Committee of FDCT will invite five to seven experts from the project consultant list to form the Project Consultant Committee.
- Applications that proceed to the evaluation phase will be reviewed by the Project Consultant Committee according to the following
- Evaluation elements and criteria: (1) Qualifications of the applicant and R&D talent. (2) Qualifications of the supervisor or coordinator. (3) The impact of the proposed project on the economy and society of Macao.
- FDCT may conduct on-site inspections of the applicant’s research conditions and arrange meetings with the R&D personnel as needed.
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