Hengqin unveiled the "Supporting measures for promoting Science and Technology exchange and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries" on April 15, aiming to foster comprehensive collaboration with Portuguese-speaking nations across various sectors. The policy will be effective from May 1, 2024, until December 31, 2026.
These measures outline specific actions in three main areas. Firstly, it focuses on supporting the development of technology enterprises from Portuguese-speaking countries in their startup phase. This includes incentives such as resettlement rewards, investment incentives, employment subsidies, office space support, housing rent subsidies, research and development fee subsidies, and development rewards, aiming to ensure their stable growth.
The policy also supports technological exchange by encouraging technology trading and organizing exchange activities. For instance, organizations within Hengqin engaging in technology development, transfer, licensing, consulting, or services with institutions from Portuguese-speaking countries will be eligible for rewards up to 500,000 RMB based on 5% of their annual technology transaction volume.
In terms of platform construction, qualified incubation facility operators can receive up to 3 million RMB in annual operating rewards, while approved national talent training bases can receive a one-time reward of 1 million RMB.
Moreover, the policy aligns with Macao's "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Macao) for Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal," offering a settlement incentive of up to 1 million RMB based on the prize money from the competition.
Portuguese-speaking countries' technology enterprises that simultaneously operate in Macao and Hengqin will receive more incentives, including increased investment rewards and extended periods for employment subsidy. For example, the investment reward for foreign-invested high-tech enterprises from Portuguese-speaking countries which have affiliated companies in Macao has been raised from 5% to 10% of the actual contribution, with a maximum reward of 1 million RMB, and the employment subsidy period extended from 18 to 24 months.
Reporter: Eastbrook
Editor: Monica, Will, James
