The University of Macau (UM) Centre for Innovation today (9 May) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with companies and government departments on collaborations to promote the development of an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship. At the same event, UM held an inauguration ceremony for its Smart City Joint Laboratory and an admission ceremony for teams selected to join the Centre for Innovation for business incubation. Prominent community members, industry representatives, experts, scholars, UM faculty members, and the media attended the event to learn more about the development and technology transfer of research results as well as the university’s breakthroughs in knowledge and technological innovations.

In his speech, UM Rector Yonghua Song said that in recent years UM has been vigorously promoting innovative thinking. In particular, it provides support to faculty members and students to transform their creative ideas into marketable products. According to Song, the signing of the MOU and the inauguration of the joint lab represents a milestone in the university’s pursuit of innovation and entrepreneurship. He believes the MOU and the joint laboratory will lead to deeper technological collaboration, increased sharing of research sources, improved innovation network connecting universities, research institutes, and the industry, and wider applications of technological innovations.

UM Vice Rector (Academic Affairs) Lionel Ni and Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited Deputy CEO Stanley Ngai Lap-San signed an MOU on innovation and collaboration. Prof Ni also signed a framework collaboration agreement with Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre CEO Carlos Lam Ka-Vai and Guangzhou Research Institute of O-M-E Technology Director Ren Hao. Rector Song and Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited Chairman of Board of Directors Tam Pak-Yuen witnessed the signing ceremony. The agreements aim to promote collaboration among universities, research institutes, government departments, and companies, and to integrate resources from all parties for the development of an ecosystem for innovation and collaboration. The agreements are also expected to create the right conditions for training cross-disciplinary professionals, deepen technology transfer, increase cross-industry integration, and improve investment environment.

In his speech, Tam said that the collaboration between UM and Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited aims to integrate the networks of academic institutions, government departments, and companies so that resources can be allocated more effectively in a parallel incubation model. The collaboration also aims to fuse local traditional and new industries with innovative technologies, in order to build a parallel incubation centre for the purposes of promoting scientific and technological innovation, cultural and creative industry, innovative industry, and entrepreneurship. In addition, Tam added that by combining the company’s commercial resources and the university’s expertise, both parties will be able to make full use of their respective advantages in resource integration, personnel training, scientific research, and technology development, thereby gradually developing a think tank to train innovative entrepreneurs and develop high-quality research technologies.

In his speech, Ren Hao said that UM collaborated with various companies on 28 projects in 2017, which resulted in 25 collaboration agreements. Nine of the projects have been listed as Guangzhou’s key science and technology projects in collaboration with external parties, setting a new record in technological collaboration between Guangzhou and Macao. This three-party agreement will allow UM and the Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre to help young people in the two cities to explore new ways of starting an innovative business. Ren hopes that more and more young people from Macao will seek entrepreneurial opportunities in Guangzhou.

Rector Song and Macao Newland Technology Co Ltd Managing Director Liu Jindong officiated at the inauguration ceremony for the Smart City Joint Laboratory. UM’s Centre for Innovation and laboratory will jointly promote the development of the innovative and creative industry and nurture high-calibre professionals in innovative technology. The lab will strive to become a key platform for collaboration between universities, research institutes, and the industry, so as to develop technologies essential to the management of smart cities and to train professionals to develop Macao into a smart city.

During the ceremony, Jerome Yen, interim director of UM’s Institute of Collaborative Innovation, told the guests about the first teams selected to join the Centre for Innovation for business incubation and officiated at the admission ceremony for the teams. The centre will provide offices, public facilities, professional guidance, practical training, and policy-wise support for the selected teams. In other words, the centre aims to serve as a platform that provides guidance and training in entrepreneurship as well as a variety of other services to help students launch their services or products to the market.

Other guests who also attended the ceremony included Xu Jun, assistant director-general of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao; Ma Chi Ngai, chairman of Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund; Wu Aihua, head of the office of science and engineering education, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Tian Lulu, deputy director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, Ministry of Education; Chan Tze Wai, deputy director of the Economic Bureau of the Macao SAR; Leong Wai Kei, deputy director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR; Kou Kam Fai, member of the UM University Council and principal of Pui Ching Middle School; Li Jingwen, acting manager of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute; Wang Yanhui, marketing director of Macao Newland Technology Co Ltd; Benny He, environmental director of Macao Newland Technology Co Ltd; Nuno Carvalho, executive director of business development of CESL Asia; Redfield Cheong, manager of business development of CESL Asia; Wang Xuemei, director of the centre for international exchange of science and technology, Guangzhou Research Institute of O-M-E Technology; Yan Jiahong, project manager from Guangzhou Research Institute of O-M-E Technology; Zheng Junmeng, director of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Sun Yat-Sen University Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital; and Liang Shi, attending physician from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the same hospital.