The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) of the University of Macau (UM) recently hosted an entrepreneurial exchange event on April 12^th for the fifth batch of students of the Doctor of Business Administration Program (DBA), in collaboration with Prof. Xiaoqing Fu, the head of the program. Under the warm reception of Prof. Elaine Leung, the Head of the Centre, the teachers and students visited the National Co-working Space and Hap On Aromatherapy Exploration Hall.

This year’s DBA students from diverse industries across the country, including high-tech, finance and accounting, cultural tourism, medical and pharmaceuticals, catering management, and construction engineering. These students are all executives and distinguished figures in their respective fields. Additionally, CIE invited representatives from three exceptional incubating enterprises to share their entrepreneurial experiences and achievements on-site, further enriching the DBA students’ understanding of UM’s progress in translating research into practical applications.

Prof. Jun Yu, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), also attended the visit and encouraged DBA students to actively engage in UM’s innovation and entrepreneurship development, fostering a solid foundation for future communication and collaboration between the Centre and the FBA.

This successful exchange meeting has established a communication bridge between the CIE and the FBA, facilitating cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship. Both parties are committed to jointly nurturing talents and promoting the transformation of research achievements into practical applications. Moving forward, DBA students are encouraged to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys and become resident companies in the center, where they can also serve as incubation judges, entrepreneurship mentors, and consultants, sharing their valuable business experiences, thus contributing to the development of innovation and entrepreneurship at UM.

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) successfully organized the recruitment roadshow for the regular incubation program for the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year on March 15. Under the leadership of Professor Elaine Leung, the Head of CIE, a selection committee composed of prominent figures from the Greater Bay Area’s science and technology investment industry reviewed 11 projects. With diverse projects from industries such as great health, microelectronics, fintech, and cultural creativity, the roadshow showcased the endless possibilities of innovation at the University of Macau (UM) in various fields.

The roadshow adopted a format that combined project presentations with a Q&A session with the selection committee. In addition, a representative from Gobi Partners GBA was invited as a guest judge. The selection committee conducted comprehensive evaluations of each project’s core technology, business model, and market prospects through online and offline assessment.

A total of 11 projects have been invited to participate in the roadshow, including 7 Category C projects in the field of medical and biotechnology, 3 Category B projects in new materials, environmental protection, and microelectronics, and 1 Category A project in culture and creativity. The roadshow highlighted the vibrant entrepreneurial atmosphere at UM and showcased the creativity and capabilities of young entrepreneurs. CIE will continue to provide comprehensive support to the incubated projects, assisting them in achieving commercialization and sustainable development.

The results of the incubation selection will be announced in early April. Project leaders are advised to closely follow the notifications from CIE.

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) hosted a briefing session at the UM Guest House (N1) on March 7 to introduce the “Industry-University-Research Matching Program” and the services provided by CIE to the incubation teams. The briefing aimed to help participants understand the FDCT and UM’s support for scientific research development and encourage innovative entities like universities, institutions, and enterprises to collaborate to diversify Macau’s industries. During the event, UM researchers actively raised questions and engaged in discussions about transforming research results into viable businesses.

Che Wai Meng, Chief of the Project Transformation and Support Department of FDCT, along with other representatives, addressed attendees’ concerns regarding the matching program. Elaine Leung Lai Han, Head of CIE and Professor in Biomedical Sciences of the Faculty of Health Sciences, stated in her welcome speech, “The briefing session conducted by FDCT has provided a strong impetus for promoting the transformation of UM’s research achievements and fostering innovation and entrepreneurial development!” The event attracted numerous UM researchers and startup members seeking funding opportunities and ways to transform their findings into practical applications.

As one of the event’s organizers, CIE aims to support and facilitate the transformation of the university’s research results. The centre organizes lectures and exhibitions, and offers consulting and nurturing services for startup projects to assist UM professors and students in overcoming the obstacles of technology implementation.