Gov’t awards design contract for major science park project

The government has awarded the conceptual planning contract for the Macau Science and Technology Industrial Research and Development Park to the Beijing Industrial Designing & Researching Institute Co., Ltd., with a total value of about MOP197.8 million, according to the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT).

Under the agreement, the mainland consultancy will prepare two separate development proposals for possible sites under consideration.

The larger allocation, worth approximately MOP148 million, covers the western parcel of Zone E1 of the New Urban Reclamation Area. A second plan, valued at around MOP49.33 million, relates to a potential site along Avenida Wai Long in Taipa.

Both conceptual designs are scheduled for completion by 31 December 2027, the bureau said.

The institute, founded in 1961 and affiliated with the Zhongguancun Development Group –Beijing’s state-backed innovation services platform – has already been involved in preliminary work for the project since November 2025. This includes drafting consultation documents, designing feedback forms, conducting public consultation sessions in Macau and compiling summary reports.

The planned science park is expected to focus on four key sectors: biomedicine, digital technologies, integrated circuits and aerospace technology. Authorities have said the project aims to leverage Greater Bay Area resources, overcome land constraints in Macau and promote a dual-development model linking “R&D in Macau with commercialization in Hengqin”, as well as “Chinese technology with Lusophone markets”.

Depending on the final site selection, the project scale will vary significantly. The E1 reclamation option covers about 177,000 square metres with a maximum building height of 53 metres. The Avenida Wai Long option spans around 83,000 square metres, including hillside terrain and the Taipa Grande Hill Tunnel, and allows for structures up to 70 metres high.

The government said the project is a key step in strengthening Macau’s innovation and technology ecosystem and integrating it more closely with regional development strategies.