Organized by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of Macao SAR Government (DSEDT) and hosted by Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited, the “Delegation of Technology Enterprises from Portuguese-speaking Countries to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area” event is held from May 9 to 15. The participating enterprises were arranged to exhibit at the BEYOND EXPO and connect with investors in the pitch roadshow, so as to further leverage Macau’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, implement science and technology exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and help boost the establishment of outstanding Brazilian and Portuguese technology enterprises in Macao and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
The delegation consisted of five incubators from Brazil and Portugal, ten awardees from the previous “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Macao) for Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal”, as well as Brazilian and Portuguese enterprises which are interested in expanding their business to China. Organized by the DSEDT, the delegations exhibited at the “Exhibition of Science and Technology Exchanges and Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” at this year’s BEYOND EXPO, and participated in the “Pitch Roadshow for Sci-Tech Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal” held yesterday (11th).
Mr Tai Kin Yip, the Director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, noted in his speech that the organization of the delegation creates conditions for Brazilian and Portuguese technology enterprises to understand the current situation and opportunities set in Macao, Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area, highlighting the significance of Macao’s role as the Sino-Lusophone platform. In addition, it has also initiated opportunities for Brazilian and Portuguese enterprises to meet face-to-face with mainland and international investors in order to foster more exchanges and cooperation. The SAR Government will continue to maintain close ties with tertiary institutions, enterprises and incubators in Portugal and Brazil, further strengthening technology exchanges and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries, actively responding to national development strategies, and driving the development of the Greater Bay Area’s internationalized technological innovation corridor.
Ten representatives of the technology enterprises from Brazil and Portugal presented their innovative highlights and future plans at the Pitch Roadshow. Some of the projects with clear market positioning, market value, successful cases and core technology patents received positive reviews from the experts and investors in attendance. The projects were considered mature and technically sound, and they were encouraged to learn more about the industry’s needs in Macao and the Greater Bay Area in order to find a good fit. The participating enterprises found the event effective and are confident in expanding their business in the Chinese market, and they intended to learn more related information during the trip. The “Exhibition of Science and Technology Exchanges and Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” also showcases the DSEDT’s efforts in promoting the development of sci-tech industries and in advancing science and technology applications, as well as strengthening regional cooperation such as science and technology exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
On the same occasion, in the presence of Director Tai Kin Ip and Mr Wu Jianfeng, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macau Investment and Development Limited, the Executive Director of Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited, Mr Lam Ka Wai executed partnership agreements with incubators from Portugal and Brazil, with Egon Zalmir Barbosa Junior, the Chief Marketing Officer of Fábrica de Startups, and Isabelle Carvalho, the Strategic Director of China-Brazil Innovation Hub respectively. In accordance with the agreements, Macao-Portugal and Macao-Brazil will strengthen the integration of various innovative technologies and business matching resources, including government, tertiary institutions, incubation accelerators and start-ups, to support the development of dual innovation. It is also the second time that Parafuturo de Macau has joined hands with renowned incubators from Portugal and Brazil to promote youth innovation exchange and cooperation, following the signing of agreements with Portuguese incubator Beta-i and Fábrica de Startups from Brazil in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
In addition, the University of Saint Joseph also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Virtuleap, a Portuguese technology enterprise. Virtuleap was the champion of the “2022 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Macao) for Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal” organized by the DSEDT, which engaged in the use of VR combined with AI technology to provide assessment and training for the diagnosis and treatment of heart and brain health issues. In the future, it will collaborate with the Laboratory of Applied Neurosciences of the University of Saint Joseph to develop industry-academia collaboration in applied neuroscience and related fields.
