Call for proposals: The Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) -2025 FDCT Funding Scheme for External Science and Technology Cooperation International Collaborative Research

Dear leaders and colleagues:

Our university has received notification from the Macau Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) that applications for 2025 FDCT funding Scheme for External Science and Technology Cooperation International Collaborative Research  will be able to apply on April 1, 2025. We would like to remind you that colleagues who are interested in applying for the application must fill out the online system（https://apps.fdct.gov.mo/subsidy/public/index.html#/）and obtain the approval from your Faculty/ Research Institute/ Research Supervisor of Department, then send the recommendation form (including the opinions and signatures), as well as related attachments should be submitted on or before  April 21, 2025 to RTAO David Xu(yuanxu@must.edu.mo).

Special Reminder: This project falls within the 3-project limit of FDCT. If the applicant has already reached the project limit, please do not submit an application.

The research project for this program has the following requirements:

1. The Maximum applied amount of each project in this scheme granted by the FDCT is MOP 5 million, to be released in installments in a maximum of 3 years. The Macao grantee must implement the project according to the “Funding Agreement” signed with the FDCT.

2. The collaborating foreign organizations shall meet any of the following conditions: Foreign higher education institutions ranked in the top 200 in any of the latest editions of Times, QS, US News or ARWU. Foreign higher education institutions ranked in the top 100 in any discipline by the latest edition of Times, QS, US News or ARWU. Foreign enterprises in the latest list of Fortune 500. Higher education institutions, research institutes or business enterprises established by law in Portuguese-speaking countries participating in the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). The collaborating foreign organizations shall conform to the supporting information on the application system.

3. The Macao applicant must fully discuss with its cooperating partner in Mainland China on issues such as the research content, the research plan and the division of labor. Then the project proposal should be filled out accordingly, together with the signed cooperation agreement or memorandum with the Mainland’s counterpart and submit to the deadline. Please prepare the cooperation agreement or memorandum as soon as possible, because of  it requires the signatures and seals of both parties. If the cooperation agreement requires the signature and seal of the university president, a separate application form must be filled out and a minimum of 7 working days must be allowed for follow-up.

4. The following basic requirements shall be met during the period of cooperation: The average time spent by the project leader of Macao on exchange visits and research at the partner shall be not less than seven days per year. The average time spent by the project leader of the partner on exchange visits and research at the partner in Macao shall be not less than seven days per year.

At least two project working meetings shall be convened per year (in any form) with the participation of the key personnel of the partners. The cost on the partner shall not exceed 40% of the funding amount.

Moreover, we are attaching Guideline, the Research Project Recommendation Form,  Subject Codes (only Chinese version). In order to assist the Principal Investigator to improve the quality of their research proposals, RTAO will uniformly arrange the format review this time, so please be sure to submit application documents within internal deadline (on or before  April 21, 2025). If the project fails to be submitted on time or the project fails to complete the internal reviews, we will consider not to recommending your application to FDCT for further process.

For more details please check https://www.fdct.gov.mo/zh_tw/external_cooperation_details/article/nsfc.html

Thank you for your kind attention. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.