The 2nd “Parafuturo de Macao” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, which is co-hosted by Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited, Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre, and the Association for Promotion of Science and Technology of Macau, began to accept applications from yesterday (February 18). Lam Ka Wai, Executive Director of Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited, CEO of Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre and Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Competition, said that the Competition aims at discovering and nurturing entrepreneurs, pushing forward incubating of projects of innovation and entrepreneurship which are closely linked to demands of economic and social development. The Competition will directly bridging five major international innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. It is expected to set up a golden track for innovators and entrepreneurs to take part in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions both at home and abroad.
The press conference was held at 15:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon in Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre. Lao Wai Meng, deputy chief of the Economic Bureau, Lam Ka Wai, Ngai Lap San, Vice President of Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited and Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Competition, Ieong Chi San, Vice Chairman of the Association for Promotion of Science and Technology of Macau and Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Competition, Ng Wai Kuan, Executive Secretary of the Association for Promotion of Science and Technology of Macau and Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Competition, attend the press conference and introduced particulars of the Competition.
Lam Ka Wai said that the 1st Competition held last year was a success. The teams of innovation and entrepreneurship recommended by the Competition all had good performances in relevant competitions held both home and abroad. The 2nd “Parafuturo de Macau” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition is specially supported by the Economic Bureau. Under recognition from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the winning teams will have the chances to, on behalf of Macau, participate in finals of China College Students’ Internet Plus Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. The Competition will also keep on cooperating with the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education Alliance of China, Fosun Foundation, the largest Chinese institutional investor in the business circle of Portugal, as well as the famous Alibaba Innovation Center, and procure that winning projects will be able to directly take part in international-level competitions, like the Beijing, Tianjin-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the Finals of the Fosun Protechting – Startup Accelerator Program and the Create@Alibaba Cloud Startup Contest . In addition, in order to utilize Macau’s role of serving as a platform and Exchange Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Young People from China and Portugal, this year the Competition will cooperate with Beta-i, Fábrica de STARTUPS Brasil, which are famous incubators of Portugal and Brazil, and attract outstanding projects of innovation and entrepreneurship both from Chinese mainland and Macao to participate in the Competition. On the basis of this platform we are going to build a bridge for innovation and entrepreneurship crossing Chinese mainland, Macao, as well as other countries and regions, and welcoming young business starters from all over the world.
“Technology Forum” will also be held on the same day with the final. It is planned that experts of innovative science and technology, leading figures of the relevant industries from Tsinghua University, Fosun Group, Alibaba Cloud, and business circle of Macau, will be invited to freely exchange their ideas on the theme of “commercialization of science and technology achievements”, and put forward their suggestion and opinions on promoting transformation efficiency of science and technology achievements in Macau.
According to introduction of Ieong Chi San, the Competition will be divided into two parts: Preliminary and final. The time period for application to the preliminary phase would be from now on to April 15. The Top 20 teams of the final will be published on May 15, after professional judger finish the evaluation in line with innovation level, feasibility, profit-making capacity, market competitiveness, as well as comprehensive team abilities of the different projects participating. The final will be carried out on June 18 in the Macao Science Centre. In addition to the champion, first runner-up, second runner-up to be chosen in the final, the review committee will also decide who will be winners of the following five prizes, including Internet Plus Award, Torch Center Award, IEEAC Award, Fosun Protechting Award and Create@Alibaba Cloud Award, with a maximum of two places for each award. The award-winning teams will be recommended by the organizer of the Competition to take part in the relevant competitions on behalf of Macao.
Ngai Lap San introduced to us that the Competition enables participants to directly take part in five major international-level competitions centring on the high-tech themes of the Internet, AI, digital life, intelligent city. These are precious opportunities, while business starters in Macao are welcome to join us.
For more details and information about these competitions and the relevant forums, you may visit the website of Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre at www.myeic.com.mo, or the website of Macau Association for Promotion of Science and Technology of Macau at www.mapst.org.
