On December 20, Macau will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese administration. This special administrative territory is entering a new phase of development that focuses on innovation, technology and economic diversification. The Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, an area adjacent to Macao, is playing an important role in these efforts.
Innovation in the spotlight
Hengqin is a place where technology and innovation meet with support from universities and government initiatives. Elwin Ho, an entrepreneur from Macau, runs Pachira, a company specialising in artificial intelligence in the automotive and financial sectors. His company works closely with universities in Macau, with some products being developed in their labs.
"The University of Macau has many experts. The Macau government is happy to support such projects because they want universities to prepare students for their future careers," said Elwin Ho, CEO of Pachira.
Similarly, Oscar Chen, chairman of Digifluidic, a company that develops pathogen detection products, is leveraging partnerships with universities. They license intellectual property from research to his company and receive a share of the revenue as part of the collaboration.
"The university will license the intellectual property and, in return, take a stake in our company, which allows us to further develop the technology," explains Oscar Chen.
Benefits of working with Hengqin
Both companies are located in the Guangdong-Macao Zone, which is intended to be a place for Macau residents to work and live. This area provides access to abundant resources from mainland China and offers favorable conditions for business.
"From mainland China, you need to apply for a permit to go to Macau, but you can come to Hengqin without one. For Macau residents, it is again easy to travel here," explains Elwin Ho.
Oscar Chen adds: "Compared to Macau, Hengqin has better conditions for recruiting workers and cooperating with other companies in the supply chain."
Macau: From entertainment hub to technology hub
Macau has traditionally been known as the entertainment centre of the world. However, it is now moving towards economic diversification, and coordinated development with cities in mainland China is helping it significantly. Thanks to the Hengqin zone, Macau has access to both the technological talent and the infrastructure that supports innovation.
Cao Chufeng, a reporter for CGTN, sums it up: "For Macao, technology industries and the development of innovation are a priority. The talent is available and the research infrastructure is ready. Working with Hengqin gives Macau better access to resources from mainland China."
The celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macau's return to China thus reflects not only its rich past but also its ambition to become a centre of innovation and a diverse economy.
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