MOP18 billion allocated for Macao Technology Research Industrial Park

The budget estimate for the Macao Technology Research Industrial Park has been included in the Government Investment and Development Expenditure Plan (PIDDA) with a total allocation of MOP18.1 billion, and prior to the park’s completion, the government will establish a center to explore the development of a miniaturized version of the park.

The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Anton Tai, and other government officials attended a closed-door meeting of the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) Second Standing Committee yesterday to discuss reports on budget implementation for the fiscal year 2026.

During a post-meeting press briefing, committee chair Ip Sio Kai revealed that the estimated budgets for two proposed sites of the industrial park – a plot of 83,000 square meters on Avenida Wai Long, opposite the airport, and a 177,000-square-meter parcel on the west bank of New Urban Zone E1, the landing point for the recently opened Macau Bridge – have been included in the Public Investment and Development Expenditure Plan (PIDDA).

The budgets are set at MOP13.66 billion and MOP4.44 billion, with an implementation period from 2026 to 2029.

The budgeted expenditure for the upcoming year exceeds MOP300 million, with preliminary work, including land surveys and design, scheduled to begin next year. Ip noted that the budget estimates remain preliminary and will become more precise as the projects progress.

The public consultation for the industrial park is ongoing, with a session held yesterday.

During the meeting, Chan Chou Weng, deputy director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, stated that it is estimated to take several years for the park to be completed and operational.

Before its completion, the government will establish a center, which will utilize government-owned space as a testing ground to attract technology companies interested in setting up operations in Macau. This center – located at the current Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre in NAPE – will function as a pilot project, akin to a scaled-down version of the industrial park.

The government also plans to establish specialized legal frameworks and administrative regulations to support the development of the industrial park.

Chan emphasized that the initial planning for the facilities will include necessary infrastructure to ensure effective operations. He highlighted that the park will not only provide enhanced development opportunities for researchers but also serve as a platform for Macau’s youth, addressing the longstanding challenge of young people struggling to find relevant jobs in research and related fields.

Referencing current data, Chan stated that approximately 2,200 students are studying at the top 100 universities overseas, excluding previous graduates. He pointed out that due to Macau’s service-oriented industry structure, many outstanding graduates have historically encountered difficulties in securing relevant employment, particularly in the areas of scientific research, STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – fields, and engineering.

Budget execution for three public universities expected to decline

The AL Second Standing Committee met yesterday with government officials to discuss the 2026 budget execution for three public universities: the University of Macau (UM), the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), and the Macau University of Tourism (UTM), along with the pension fund. Reports indicate that increased enrollment, especially among non-local students, has boosted educational revenue for all three institutions, while the proportion of government subsidies has decreased.

The UM’s budgeted revenue is set at MOP1.137 billion, an increase of MOP182 million, or 19.1 percent, compared to 2025. MUST projects a budgeted revenue of MOP 490 million, up MOP100 million, or 25.4%, while UTM anticipates MOP160 million, a rise of MOP50 million, or 43%.

In campus development, all three institutions plan to advance their Hengqin extensions through equity investment, with the UM leading the initiative.

Its Hengqin campus has a total budget of MOP8.4 billion, with approximately MOP634 million earmarked for next year’s investment. Construction has entered the implementation phase, and enrollment preparations are underway.

MUST and UTM intend to jointly develop a Hengqin campus, with a total construction budget of MOP9.5 billion, and their investment phases are scheduled from 2027 to 2033, with MUST starting graduate enrollments in 2026.