Subsidy Programme for Scientific Research Platforms – Joint-Type Platforms, Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Joint Laboratories (Fiscal Year 2026)
2026/10/27
Dear Leaders, Colleagues,
Greetings! The Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) is now accepting applications for the "Subsidy Programme for Scientific Research Platforms – Joint-Type Platforms, Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Joint Laboratories (Fiscal Year 2026)".
Application Period: October 26 to November 25, 2026.
Important notice: Applicants must submit the signed hard copies of the project proposal and relevant attachments to the FDCT during office hours before the deadline.
For details, please visit the FDCT official website:
https://fdct.dsedt.gov.mo/zh_tw/platform_detail/article/lzc759h7.html
Key application requirements are as follows:
I. 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.
II. Supported Areas and Construction Contents
This year's funding supports 1 joint laboratory in the field of artificial intelligence and big data.
Construction Content: The joint laboratory shall integrate national strategies, scientific and technological innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and actual socio-economic development needs. Focusing on cross-border data development demands, it shall conduct applied research and key core technology breakthroughs, promote achievement transfer and transformation, introduce and cultivate talent teams, and extensively carry out cooperative exchanges, thereby actively building a high-level scientific and technological innovation carrier and platform to serve the cross-border flow of data elements and the digital economy development in the Greater Bay Area.
III. Subsidy Amount
The construction period of the joint laboratory is 3 years. The funding intensity from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology is RMB 10 million per laboratory, and the funding intensity from the FDCT is MOP 13 million per laboratory.
IV. Eligibility Criteria
The leading institution of the joint laboratory must be a Macao entity (hereinafter referred to as the "Macao Lead Entity") and must comply with the provisions of Chapter 1, Article 3, Paragraphs (1) and (2), and Chapter 2, Article 1, Paragraph (5) of the FDCT Subsidy Programme for Scientific Research Platforms (Fiscal Year 2026).
The Macao Leading Institution must jointly apply with universities, research institutes, or enterprises from Guangdong or both Guangdong and Hong Kong, and must include at least one Guangdong-based unit.
Priority will be given to supporting units that have not yet established a joint laboratory led by a Macao Lead Entity.
V. 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.
VI. 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.
VII. 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.
VIII. Cooperation Requirements
Over the past three years (since 2023), 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 Hengqin is supported, especially participation by key technology enterprises certified by the Technology Enterprise Certification Programme.
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.
IX. 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.
X. 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.
Colleges/Faculties/Institutes/Laboratories interested in applying are requested to submit the electronic version of the application form along with relevant attachments via email to Mr. Zhou Zipeng (zpzhou@must.edu.mo) of the Research and Technology Administration Office (RTAO) on or before November 10, 2026, to facilitate processing.
For inquiries, please get in touch with us. Thank you!
RTAO
