Technology Research and Development Talent Funding Scheme

(Enterprise R&D Talent Category and Postdoctoral Category)

Application Period : April 23, 2025, to May 23, 2025
Important notice : The signed application and relevant attachments must be submitted to the Fund before the deadline (during office hours).

Objectives	Eligibility Criteria	Categories of Application	Eligible Applicants
Type and Scope	Application Period	Application Conditions	Number of Grants
Eligible Expenditures	Application Dossier	Evaluation Criteria	Funding Amount
Duration of Funding	Termination of Funding	Deliverables Requirements	Download

 

I. Objectives

II. Eligibility Criteria

1. For the Enterprise R&D Talent Category, applications must be submitted by the employing enterprise, which must be:
   1. An enterprise certified under the "Technology Enterprise Certification Scheme" of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau;
   2. An enterprise recognised by the "Evaluation Committee for Enterprises Engaged in Scientific and Technological Innovation Activities" pursuant to Article 6 of Law No. 1/2021 (Tax Incentive Regime for Enterprises Engaged in Scientific and Technological Innovation Activities) (hereinafter referred to as "tax-recognised enterprise").
2. For the Postdoctoral Category, applications must be submitted by the higher education institutions employing the postdoctoral researcher, as referred to in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 3, Chapter I.
3. If the entities referred to in the preceding two paragraphs do not possess legal personality, applications must be submitted through their affiliated entities with legal personality.

 

III. Categories of Application and Maximum Funding Amounts

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.

 

IV. Eligible Applicants

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.

 

V. Type and Scope of Funding

1. The Scheme provides non-reimbursable financial support.
2. Scope of funding: projects that align with the objectives of the FDCT and this Scheme.

VI. Application Period

VII. Application Conditions and Relevant Requirements

1. For the Enterprise R&D Talent Category, the relevant talent must meet the following criteria:
   1. Hold a Macao Resident Identity Card;
   2. Have obtained a doctoral or master's degree in a science and technology field from a higher education institution recognised by the Macao or local government within the past five years;
   3. As of the first day of the application date for this category, the talent must have been employed by the technology enterprise for no more than one year, or the enterprise must provide relevant documentation proving that the talent will be employed within one year after the grant is awarded;
   4. Must not be a shareholder of the technology enterprise.
2. For the Postdoctoral Category, the relevant talent must meet the following criteria:
   1. Hold a Macao Resident Identity Card;
   2. Have obtained a doctoral degree from a higher education institution recognised by the Macao or local government within the past five years;
   3. Possess experience in academic research or achievement in research results commercialisation in the science and technology field;
   4. As of the first day of the application date for this category, the talent must have been employed by the higher education institution for no more than one year, or the institution must provide relevant documentation proving that the talent will be employed within one year after the grant is awarded.
3. The R&D project to be carried out or participated in by the relevant talent must meet the following requirements:
   1. The project must be developed in alignment with policies including the "Second Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macao Special Administrative Region (2021–2025)", the "Plan for Moderate Economic Diversification of the Macao Special Administrative Region (2024–2028)", the "2025 Financial Year Policy Address", and the relevant plans and schemes of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, especially those promoting scientific research and industrial development in areas 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 be assigned a mentor or coordinator responsible for overseeing the R&D activities of the relevant talent. The mentor or coordinator must meet the following conditions:
      1. For applications submitted by enterprises, a coordinator must be appointed. The coordinator must be an employee of the enterprise responsible for coordinating the work of the relevant talent.
      2. For applications submitted by higher education institutions, a mentor must be appointed. The mentor must be a staff member of the institution with a professional title of not less than Associate Professor, and directly guide the work of the relevant talent.
4. Only one relevant talent per project may apply for the allowance.

 

VIII. Number of Grants

1. The combined maximum number of grants for the Enterprise R&D Talent Category and Postdoctoral Category is 65, with a maximum of 15 grants allocated to the Postdoctoral Category.
2. The number of funded talents in each enterprise shall not exceed one-third of the total number of staff with degrees in science and technology fields, and must not exceed the following maximum per enterprise:
   1. For key enterprises, up to 5 individuals;
   2. For growing enterprises, up to 3 individuals;
   3. For potential enterprises, up to 2 individuals;
   4. For tax-recognised enterprises, up to 3 individuals.

IX. Eligible Expenditures

X. Application Dossier

1. Identification details of the applicant and the relevant supporting documents.
2. If the applicant is a business operator or commercial enterprise, a commercial registration certificate issued by the competent authority within the past three months and, where applicable, a copy of the most recent Supplementary Income Tax return (Form M1) for the past year must also be submitted.
3. A certificate issued by the competent authority within the past three months stating that the applicant has no outstanding tax liabilities or, where applicable, social security contributions in the Macao SAR.
4. Information on other projects subsidised with public funds under the same applicant, and any other pending applications submitted for funding purposes.
5. Identity documents, academic qualification certificates, curriculum vitae, and supporting documents of achievements of the relevant talent.
6. Identification information and curriculum vitae of the mentor or coordinator, along with details of their allocated time for the implementation of the respective project.
7. In accordance with the requirements under Paragraph (2), Article 3 of this Chapter, if the applicant is an enterprise, each application must be accompanied by a list of no fewer than two employees of the enterprise holding academic degrees in science and technology (excluding the subsidised talent), together with their academic qualification certificates. In the case of multiple applications, the employee lists must not contain duplicate names across different applications.
8. A copy of the formal employment contract or draft employment contract of the relevant talent, specifying the job title and monthly salary.
9. The project proposal, including details such as the amount of funding requested, personnel involved, project planning and schedule.

 

XI. Evaluation Criteria

1. The qualifications of the applicant and the relevant talent.
2. The qualifications of the mentor or coordinator.
3. The impact of the proposed project on the economic and social development of Macao.

 

XII. Funding Amount and Calculation Method

1. The maximum funding amount per application is as stipulated in Article 2, Chapter I. The amount granted by the FDCT shall not exceed the requested amount.
2. For the Postdoctoral Category, the maximum monthly allowance per individual is MOP30,000, for a funding period not exceeding 24 months.
3. For the Enterprise R&D Talent Category, the monthly subsidy per individual shall not exceed 70% of their monthly salary, and must comply with the following standards:
   1. For individuals holding a doctoral degree: a maximum of MOP30,000 per month, for up to 24 months.
   2. For individuals holding a master's degree: a maximum of MOP20,000 per month, for up to 24 months.

 

XIII. Duration of Funding

XIV. Termination of Funding

XV. Deliverables Requirements

1. If the funding recipient is a higher education institution, the expected research deliverables may include academic or applied outcomes, such as theses, publications, research (consultation) reports, patents, software, hardware (prototypes or mock-ups), technical standards, formulations, new materials, or new processes.
2. If the funding recipient is an enterprise, the expected research deliverables must be applied outcomes, which may include patents, software, hardware (prototypes or mock-ups), technical standards, formulations, new materials, or new processes.

 

XVI. Download

Document Name
Technology Research and Development Talent Funding Scheme
Application Form (.docx)          Application Form (.pdf)

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