The Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) said in a statement yesterday that it has awarded 15 local tech companies with certification recognising their respective ability to engage in technological innovation.
The statement noted that in compliance with the Macau government’s “1+4” drive to appropriately diversify the city’s economy, the bureau launched a certification programme for local tech companies in April this year with the aim of boosting the development of the city’s high-tech industry.
The programme aims to help highly-qualified companies engaging in technological innovation expand their businesses through the bureau’s granting of official certification.
Yesterday’s statement noted that the programme aims to encourage local businesses to engage in technological innovation and attract technology companies outside Macau to set up businesses here.
The programme covers locally-registered companies which have engaged in technological innovation as their main business activities in Macau for at least one year.
After the bureau launched the programme in April, potential beneficiaries were required to submit their applications to the bureau in May, during which 39 companies submitted their applications, according to yesterday’s statement.
Yesterday’s statement noted that afterwards an evaluation committee set up by the bureau assessed the applications based on various factors, such as their business activities, the size of their business, their research and development, and the level of innovation in their business activities.
The statement said that after the assessments, the committee has decided to award 15 of them with the certification.
The programme comprises three levels of certification awarded to technology companies depending on the scores given by the evaluation committee.
The three levels of certification, from the lowest to highest level, are “Potential Technology Company”, “Growing Technology Company”, and “Leading Technology Company”.
The certifications will be valid for three years. Upon expiry, the companies will have to reapply to be awarded certification again.
According to yesterday’s statement, the 15 companies awarded the certification consist of 12 “Potential Technology Companies” and three “Leading Technology Companies”.
The statement said that the 15 companies’ businesses cover various fields such as integrated circuits, information technology (IT), the internet, artificial intelligence (AI), and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
The bureau said in the statement that it will launch a new application round next month.
This poster provided by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) yesterday explains its certification programme for local tech firms.
