FDCT Funding Scheme for Scientific Research Platforms – R&D-Oriented Platforms (2025)

Dear Leaders,

Greetings! Our university has received a notice from the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) that the "Funding Scheme for Scientific Research Platforms – R&D-Oriented Platforms (2025)" is now open for applications.

Application Period : April 23, 2025, to June 13, 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/lzc75l88.html

Key application requirements are as follows:

I. Priority Areas

1. Integrated Circuit Sector: In line with national strategic priorities and the industrial layout of Macao and Hengqin, efforts shall focus on computing power demands in specific areas, by establishing development platforms based on programmable chips/FPGA, researching hardware-software acceleration technologies based on the open-source RISC-V instruction set, and collaborating with leading institutions in China and abroad to tackle key technologies in hardware architecture and software algorithms. The goal is to foster industry-academia-research synergy, accelerate R&D and application transformation of semiconductor technologies, and support the innovation and upgrading of the integrated circuit industry integrated with AI acceleration.

2. Smart Elderly Care Sector: Leveraging Macao's strengths in AI, nursing, and social work research, the aim is to collaborate with major Mainland research institutions and address local social needs by developing new smart elderly care technologies, equipment, and standards. The initiative seeks to promote interdisciplinary innovation and translate research outcomes into intelligent and inclusive elderly care service systems.

3. Advanced Materials Sector: Building upon Macao's advantages in optoelectronic materials, especially light-emitting diode technologies, and its role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, this initiative will support joint research with key research institutions in Portuguese-speaking countries. It will focus on cutting-edge areas such as new display materials and light-emitting devices, promote technological innovation, internationalisation, and industrial application of optoelectronic materials, and foster high value-added industrial chains in Macao and Hengqin.

4. Biopharmaceutical Sector: Capitalising on Macao's strong R&D capacity, this initiative aims to attract renowned listed companies from China and overseas to provide advanced instruments and equipment, with a focus on R&D in high-throughput sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. It seeks to establish biobanks to offer innovative tools for life sciences and precision medicine, and support interdisciplinary breakthroughs in biophotonics technologies.

5. Application of Macao Science Satellites: Using high-precision magnetic field measurement data from the Macao Science Satellite series, and leveraging Macao's role as China's platform for international science and technology cooperation, this initiative will promote collaboration with institutions in relevant sectors both domestically and internationally. It will support scientific research using high-precision geomagnetic satellite data, including model building, technology development, algorithm R&D, software development, and experimental validation, to encourage the widespread application of geomagnetic data in the national economy.

II. Funding Amount

The maximum funding amount for applications in the fields of integrated circuits, smart elderly care, advanced materials, and biopharmaceuticals is MOP 20 million.
The maximum funding amount for applications in the application of Macao Science Satellites field is MOP 30 million.

III. Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be the host institution of the platform, and the platform must meet at least one of the following conditions:

1. Established with approval from relevant ministries or commissions of the People's Republic of China (not applicable for this application round);

2. Currently receiving funding from the FDCT's "Funding Scheme for Laboratories and R&D Centres" and completing the project this year (not applicable for this application round);

3. Jointly established with a listed enterprise, an enterprise invested in by a national-level fund from Mainland China, a national high-tech enterprise, or a nationally recognised "Specialised, Refined, Differential and Innovative" (SRDI) enterprise from Mainland China;

4. Jointly established with a national-level scientific research platform from Mainland China;

5. Jointly established with a higher education institution ranked among the Top 100 in the latest editions of Times Higher Education, QS World University Rankings, U.S. News & World Report, or Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), either domestic or international;

6. Jointly established with a higher education institution from a Portuguese-speaking country participating in the "Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao)", and ranked Top 10 in its respective country according to the latest edition of any of the above rankings (Times, QS, US News, or ARWU);

7. A scientific research institution in the field related to the application of the Macao Science Satellites.

Internal Deadline for Colleges: May 23, 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