Subsidy Programme for Scientific Research Platforms – Joint-Type Platforms, Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Joint Laboratories (Fiscal Year 2025)

Published Time 2025/04/30

Dear Leaders,

Greetings! Our university has received a notice from the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) that the "Subsidy Programme for Scientific Research Platforms – Joint-Type Platforms, Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Joint Laboratories (Fiscal Year 2025)" is now open for applications.

Application Period : April 30, 2025, to May 30, 2025

Important notice : The signed application and relevant attachments must be submitted to the Fund before the deadline (during office hours).

For details, please refer to Attachment 1 or visit the FDCT official website:

https://www.fdct.gov.mo/en/platform_detail/article/lzc759h7.html

Key application requirements are as follows:

1. Competent Authorities

The competent authority in Macao is the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT); in Guangdong, it is the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province.
Applications from Macao, including submission, evaluation and approval, implementation, management, and project conclusion, shall be governed by the current Subsidy Regulation of the FDCT.
Joint Laboratories approved for funding shall sign a Subsidy Agreement with the FDCT and comply with the relevant rules issued by Guangdong DOST.

2. Supported Areas

One Joint Laboratory in the field of traditional Chinese medicine will be supported in this fiscal year.

3. Subsidy Amount

The construction period of each Joint Laboratory is 3 years.
Each laboratory will receive:

RMB 10 million from Guangdong DOST;
MOP 13 million from the FDCT.

4. Eligibility Criteria

The lead entity of the Joint Laboratory must be an institution from Macao (hereinafter referred to as the "Macao Lead Entity") and must comply with Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3, and Paragraph 6 of Article 4 of the Subsidy Programme for Scientific Research Platforms of the FDCT.

5. Cooperation Partners

Guangdong partners must be legal entities registered in Guangdong Province, including enterprises, research institutes, and higher education institutions. They must possess legal person status, have research and development capacity and a solid foundation, and follow standardised management practices.
Hong Kong partners must be research institutes, higher education institutions, or technological enterprises registered in the Hong Kong SAR, with R&D capabilities and foundations.

6. Matching Contribution

If commercial enterprises or business operators participate as co-building partners, they are required to provide a matching contribution of no less than 50% of the subsidy granted by the FDCT. The specific percentage shall be stipulated in the Subsidy Agreement.

7. Application Requirements

Joint Laboratories shall conduct applied research and address key core technologies in the related fields, promote the transformation and commercialisation of research outcomes, attract and train research teams, and engage in extensive cooperation and exchanges.
The Macao Lead Entity must commit to the long-term operation of the Joint Laboratory, with support in terms of personnel, funding, and resources. The financial contribution from the Macao Lead Entity must not be less than the subsidy amount granted by the FDCT. Each entity must possess relatively independent and centralized laboratory facilities and equipment to support the operation of the Joint Laboratory.
The director of the Joint Laboratory must be a full-time employee of the Macao Lead Entity, with academic influence in the relevant research area. The Macao Lead Entity must grant the director autonomy in research organisation, fund allocation, recruitment, and results commercialisation. A co-director system may be implemented, where necessary, with a co-director appointed from Guangdong or Hong Kong.
The research team of the Joint Laboratory must consist of no fewer than 30 researchers. Among them, at least 15 core researchers must be from the Macao Lead Entity (of which at least 10 are full-time), and at least 15 core researchers must be from the co-building entities.
Each project team member may only participate in the application of one Joint Laboratory. Members of an already approved Joint Laboratory are not allowed to participate in a new application.

8. Cooperation Requirements

Over the past three years (since 2022), the Macao Lead Entity and the Guangdong partner must have engaged in substantive collaborative research, established a relatively sound cooperation mechanism, and developed platforms, research personnel, scientific exchanges, and joint research outcomes. The partnership should demonstrate strong collaborative innovation capacity among academia, research, and industry, with a solid foundation and promising prospects in areas such as personnel exchange, postgraduate training, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
Cooperation with enterprises in Macao or in the Guangdong–Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is encouraged, especially with enterprises certified under the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau.
The lead entity must sign a cooperation agreement with the co-applicant entities regarding the construction of the Joint Laboratory, clearly defining the cooperation model, division of responsibilities, fund allocation, and ownership of research outcomes.

9. Expected Outputs

During the 3-year construction period, the Joint Laboratory must undertake no fewer than 10 scientific research projects jointly between Macao and Guangdong.
At least one scientific research outcome from the Macao side must be transformed within the Guangdong–Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
At least 60 joint academic papers must be published by Guangdong and Macao researchers, and at least 5 jointly declared intellectual property results must be achieved.
No fewer than 50 personnel exchanges between Guangdong and Macao researchers shall be organised, and no fewer than 10 major academic exchange events shall be held.
No fewer than 20 postgraduate students shall be jointly trained by Guangdong and Macao institutions.

10. Submission Method

Before the application deadline, the Macao Lead Entity must submit the application to the FDCT, including a printed project proposal and relevant documentation proving cooperation and supporting evidence. The documents must be bound, signed by the legal representative, and affixed with the official seal of the entity.
Each Macao Lead Entity may only submit one application per field.
This programme requires simultaneous application to the Guangdong DOST. The specific requirements shall follow the relevant regulations issued by Guangdong DOST.

Internal Deadline for Colleges: May 20, 2025
Submit electronic documents (Attachments 2 & 3) and supporting materials to Mr. Zhou Zipeng (RTAO):
Email: zpzhou@must.edu.mo

For inquiries, please get in touch with us. Thank you!

RTAO

Back