FDCT’s Supporting Funding Scheme for Projects Admitted to EU’s Horizon Europe

To motivate Macao’s researchers to take part in international research cooperation, the Science and Technology Development Fund (hereafter, “FDCT”) began offering a supporting fund (hereafter, “FDCT-EC project”) to Macao’s research teams that participate in the Horizon Europe program (hereafter, “Horizon Europe”) of the European Union (EU) after its discussion with relevant departments of the European Commission (hereafter, “EC”).

I. Focus of Funding
The focus is on science and technology projects that are clearly set to yield applicable results and meet the needs arising from Macao’s science and technology development.

II. Funding Amount
FDCT provides a maximum of MOP 1 million in annual funding to each project for a period of up to three years. If the research period approved by the EU exceeds three years, the participants from Macao shall file their funding application to FDCT again in the third year of the execution of their projects for review. Macao’s funding recipients shall execute their projects according to the Funding Agreement that they signed with FDCT. The fund allocated by FDCT shall only be used to cover the expenses of Macao’s research teams.

III. Application Method and Requirements
1.     The administrative units of the cooperation project on Macao’s and the European sides are FDCT and EC.
2.     The principal investigator on the Macao side (PI) shall undertake no more than one project funded by the joint funding scheme at a time and cannot file a new funding application as a PI until after they submit the final report of the project concerned, but those who participate in the project as other members of the team are not subject to these requirements.
3.     Macao’s researchers interested in Horizon Europe can find the latest information about the proposal and tender invitation for the program on the portal page of its website and their participation shall be in projects that meet the needs arising from Macao’s science and technology development.
4.     Every applicant from Macao shall form a team with entities from at least three EU member countries (three different countries) and discusses research content, research plan, division of labor among other issues with them.
5.     The application period for this funding scheme is the same as that stated in the EC’s call for tenders. Macao’s applicants shall submit their applications to FDCT before the deadline stated in the notice.
6.     The chief coordinators of the joint research teams shall submit their proposal applications to the EC before the deadline stated in its call for tenders. The applications shall bear the content of the research to be conducted in Macao and the research budget. For details about the required information, please refer to relevant requirements set by the EC.

IV. Review Process
1.     FDCT and EC respectively review the projects.
2.     The review process for this kind of funding application is the same as those for the applications for FDCT’s current research funding schemes (involving a preliminary analysis, a peer review as well as reviews by the Project Advisory Committee, Administrative Committee, and Trustee Committee), but FDCT prioritizes the reviews for these applications.
3.     The PI on the Macao side who is notified of the EC’s review result shall inform FDCT of it and present the notice concerned to FDCT timely. FDCT will notify the PI of its review result.
4.     If a project is granted funding by FDCT, the PI on the Macao side of the project shall immediately notify the chief coordinator of their project of the result for a timely arrangement of contract signing between all teammates from EU member countries and the EC.

V. Requirements for Filling out the Proposal Application Form
1.     Proposal application form serve as important references for FDCT and experts in corresponding fields among other parties to learn and inquire about the projects as well as review and select the applications. The applying entity shall fill out their application form according to the requirements regarding the proposal content, format, and numbers of words. 
2.     Basic requirements for filling out the proposal application form are as follow:
  1. The applying entity shall meet the requirements stated in Article 2 under Chapter 1 of the Financial Aid Grant Regulation approved by and as a part of the Chief Executive’s Dispatch no. 64/2021. 
  2. The cooperation project shall be significant, with a solid rationale, a clear goal, substantial content, and assessable technical indicators and based on a viable collaboration plan.
  3. There shall be a relevant basis for project cooperation. The applying entity shall have corresponding channels and capacity for cooperation. Besides, the entity shall maintain a cooperative and trusting relationship with its partners and sign related project cooperation agreements or memorandums of cooperation with the entity of the chief coordinator on the European side.
  4. The partners shall possess solid technological strength or high research capability and be willing and able to work with their Macao counterparts. The partners can participate in the cooperation in the form of providing the required technology, capital, personnel or data and information, advanced equipment or exclusive resources, etc.
  5. Intellectual property rights can be protected effectively and research results can be shared fairly and justly in the interests of both parties.
VI. The Way to Fill out the Application
Please complete the application form according to instructions through FDCT’s online funding application system on the webpage:  https://apps.fdct.gov.mo/sams/public/main-page.faces
 For more details, please refer to the page of Account Registration.

VII. Application Period
The application is open, with deadlines set at different times of the year. The deadlines are the same as those listed in Horizon Europe’s calls for proposals and tenders.


     
 
Download
Content Download
Application guideline

Download

Certification of no tax due

Download

Subject code

Download

Annual report

Download

Final report

Download

Office address: Avenida do Infante D. Henrique, No. 43-53A, Macau Square, 8th Floor, Unit C and 11th Floor, Unit K, Macao (To apply for project funding, please go to 11th Floor, Unit K)
Office hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00-13:00, 14:30-17:45;Friday: 9:00-13:00, 14:30-17:30;Tel.: 28788777
Copyright(C) 2021 ALL right reserved.