The new Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) “Academic Research Grant Regulations” came into effect on 1 February. All interested academics can submit their applications from 1 March to 31 May 2015.

In order to accompany the new social and academic trends as well as to improve and regulate the system, IC, after reviewing the experience of the previously launched “Academic Research Grant Regulations”, carried out a revision of its provisions, and is now launching the new “Academic Research Grant Regulations”, approved by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture’s Order No. 13/2015 to come into effect on 1 February.

The goal of the new “Academic Research Grant Regulations” is to encourage original academic research on the culture of Macao, and on the exchange between Macao, Mainland China and other countries. In order to best correspond to the current situation and academic standards, several norms were revised regarding applicants’ eligibility, frequency of award, amounts, application documents, selection and selection criteria, applicants’ obligations and prohibitions, research period, awards suspension and cancellation and copyrights, among others. Highlights are:

1. Applicants’ eligibility: a) local or overseas doctorate degree holders, with proven academic research experience; and b) local or overseas individuals, with sufficient research experience and recognized academic production;

2. Frequency of grant and application period: IC accepts applications every year between 1 March and 31 May, and applications submitted out of this period will not be considered;

3. Amounts: there will be two amounts of MOP 280,000.00 and MOP 250,000.00, to be decided by IC under proposal of the Selection Panel, based on the applicant’s academic background and the content of the project;

4. Application documents: a) application form provided by IC, duly completed and signed; and b) applicant’s Curriculum vitae, research project plan and certified copies of the applicant’s educational qualification certificates; incomplete applications or that fail to comply with the above will not be accepted;

5. Language and number of words: monographs can be written in Chinese, Portuguese or English, containing no less than 150,000 words, excluding notes, bibliographies, appendixes, illustrations, captions, maps and tables.

The awarding of research grants is an important measure in IC’s support to academic research. The Academic Research Grant promote Macao’s culture and history within academic circles as well as the research of Macao’s role in the exchange between East and West, strengthening the citizen’s knowledge and understanding about the territory, positively contributing for Macao’s cultural development and earning recognition from the academic world. In order to improve the grant allocation system, IC has been revising related regulations since 2006, and has launched, up to now, sixteen grant programmes, which have supported fifty six research projects. These new revisions to the regulations are the result of one year of consultation from academics in related fields from Macao and abroad.

The new “Academic Research Grant Regulations” and application form are available in IC’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo. For more information, please contact Ms. Silvia Kuan through tel. no. 8399 6381 during office hours, or by email at silviak@icm.gov.mo.