The Macao SAR government today (16 November) held an award presentation ceremony for the Macao Science and Technology Awards 2022. The University of Macao (UM) has won 14 awards, accounting for over 60 per percent of all the awards presented this year, including winning all awards in the Technological Invention Award category. UM’s postgraduate students have also performed very well, with 15 doctoral students and five master’s students receiving the Scientific and Technological R&D Award for Postgraduates.

Out of the 22 prizes, UM has received 14 prizes, including four second prizes and three third prizes in the Natural Science Award category; two second prizes and four third prizes in the Technological Invention Award category; as well as a third prize in the Science and Technology Progress Award category. No first prize was awarded this year.

During the ceremony, Lei Wai Nong, secretary for economy and finance; Huang Shengbiao, deputy head of the department of economics of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government of the Macao SAR; Xu Jie, deputy director-general of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China; Chan Wan Hei, president of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao; and representatives of judges of the Macao Science and Technology Awards presented awards to recipients. In his speech, Lei said the SAR government in recent years has endeavoured to improve the technological innovation system, nurture technological talent in Macao, and develop a development model led by universities and enterprises and guided by the market for industry-academia collaboration to facilitate the transfer of technological research results. He expressed hope that science and technology practitioners in Macao would seize the opportunity brought by the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an international centre for technological innovation to jointly promote the development of technological innovation in Macao and contribute to economic diversification of the city.

Wong Fai, interim associate dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology of UM, said in his speech as the representative of the awardees that the Macao Science and Technology Award is not only an honour to a researcher; it is also an encouragement and a token of responsibility. According to him, the development strategy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and the second five-year development plan of Macao have provided unprecedented opportunities for researchers in Macao. Based in Macao, a platform with unique advantages, while working in their respective fields of science and technology, researchers should also work together to promote industry-academia collaboration and integrate Macao's characteristics on the frontline of scientific research, so as to encourage more young people in Macao to join the industry and pursue technological innovation.

In recent years, UM has been actively deploying new research strategies. It has enhanced its research capabilities by expanding its key areas of research, with more and more research results reaching the stages of translation and application. The university will further improve the ‘5-in-1’ system for research innovation and results transfer, enhance the quality and impact of its research results, systematically promote technological innovation and the transfer of results, and accelerate the process of commercialisation of results to promote economic diversification of Macao.

Below is a list of the awards received by UM and the key persons involved in the award-winning projects: