Macau, as an international metropolis under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, possesses robust university education resources, scientific research capabilities, and extensive international connections. It has demonstrated specialized R&D strengths in fields such as traditional Chinese medicine, biomedicine, and integrated circuits. Hengqin, leveraging its unique policy advantages, abundant market resources, and solid talent base, has become fertile ground for technological innovation. The collaboration between the two regions aims to build an internationally competitive technology development ecosystem, fostering the flourishing growth of technology enterprises in the Macau-Hengqin area.

The Macao-Hengqin linkage is crucial for establishing an ecosystem for science and technology industry development and improving the industry development system. Additionally, it will help Macao attract high-tech enterprises operating in Hengqin to extend their operations into Macao, leverage Macao's international city advantages to attract high-end talent, establish R&D centers, and expand global business operations. Macao's Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) will continue to promote the application or transformation of key R&D projects in Hengqin. For the first time, it will collaborate with relevant Hengqin departments to solicit technical needs, leveraging Macao's scientific research capabilities to solve enterprise product challenges. This initiative strengthens Macao-Hengqin synergy and industry-academia-research integration, creating more favorable conditions for technology enterprise development.

Macao's Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) Expands “Enterprises Pose Problems, Universities Solve Them” Model to Hengqin

Xie Yongqiang, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund, stated that to support industry-academia-research collaboration between Macao and Hengqin, the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) expanded its initiative in January this year. Building upon the existing model of “enterprises posing problems and universities solving them,” the fund began soliciting technical needs from Hengqin enterprises for the first time. This initiative channels Macao's scientific research resources to provide technical solutions for Hengqin enterprises, incorporating eight technical needs from Macao and Hengqin enterprises into a compiled guide.

Cultivating local talent to support the development of Macau's piano industry

To attract technology talent to develop in Macau and Zhuhai, Macao's Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) hosted the “Macau-Zhuhai Technology Talent Matching Fair” in June this year. with 39 companies offering approximately 550 vacancies and internship opportunities. Participating enterprises included prominent firms such as ALIBABA CLOUD (MACAU) LIMITED, Jafron Biomedical Co., Ltd., and key enterprises certified by the Macau University of Science and Technology.

Macao's Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) and the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau jointly present the “New Opportunities in Macao-Guangdong Innovation and Technology: Career Planning” lecture.

Case One

With the support of the Macao SAR Government, the Institute for Development and Quality (IDQ) established IDQ Technology (Hengqin, Guangdong) Co., Ltd. in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cooperation Zone in Hengqin last year. Backed by the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, IDQ is collaborating with Aerospace Engineering Equipment (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. and with the participation of the University of Macau and the University of Science and Technology Beijing. A series of experiments are currently underway in Hengqin. This technology will be applied to large structural components in both civilian products and the aerospace sector. To date, IDQ, as the primary intellectual property holder, has secured 20 authorized patents for the relevant technologies. IDQ Chairman Lap Mou Tam stated that the project will also leverage the China-Portugal platform to expand into overseas markets in the future.

IDQ advances core technology development and commercialization efforts, with 13 of its 20-member team being Macau residents. Lap Mou Tam stated that the Macau team collaborates with mainland technical professionals to learn and master technologies and expertise. Moving forward, the goal is to hone Macau team members' market experience through projects, thereby cultivating local talent and boosting the development of Macau's semiconductor industry.

IDQ's R&D Center Established in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

Case Two

The Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) has funded numerous projects that have yielded preliminary results and been implemented in Hengqin. Among these, the OLED technology developed by Tang Jianxin, Assistant Dean of the School of Innovation Engineering at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), is currently being researched at the Hengqin-MUST Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Institute. The project is a collaboration among Macau University of Science and Technology, East China Normal University, and Guangdong Ju Hua Printing Display Technology Co., Ltd. It primarily focuses on researching OLED micro-display screens for applications in VR glasses and shooting device sights.

The project has achieved phased results, with the team collaborating with multiple display material companies on industrial development and sales. This is expected to drive over one million yuan in investment from related enterprises. Tang Jianxin also noted that throughout the project's implementation, the team received close communication and assistance from Macao's Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), which helped resolve numerous challenges and facilitated the project's smooth progress.

Chairman Xie Yongqiang of Macao's Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) and members of the Trust Committee visited Hengqin to review the progress of research teams' industry-academia-research collaboration.