2022-09-15T17:24:31+08:002022-08-03|News&Events, News|

Measures include supporting the development of enterprises, encouraging the introduction of talents, supporting the construction of cooperation platforms, and promoting collaborative innovation

New measures in In-depth Cooperation Zone to promote integrated circuit industry

Various Measures for Promoting the Development of Integrated Circuit Industry in Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone has recently been announced. The policy puts forward specific measures to promote the development of the IC industry which include supporting the development of enterprises, encouraging the introduction of talents, supporting the construction of cooperation platforms and promoting collaborative innovation between Guangdong and Macao. The measures are considered comprehensive and appealing. They provide not only incentives for domestic and foreign enterprises to extend their businesses there, but also considerable support for them. It also provides room for development and assistance to small- and medium- startup companies.

Creating a zero capital startup platform

This new policy is the first initiative launched specifically for driving the IC industry since the inception of the In-depth Zone. To help attract more talents, it offers up to RMB150,000 of incentives per year to R&D and senior management personnel who sign work contracts with companies and research institutes in the IC field for more than three years and whose workplaces are located in the Cooperation Zone.

Regarding talent cultivation, the policy offers an annual subsidy of RMB1 million to units recognised as IC talent training bases, and up to RMB1 million annually to entreprises and research institutes that use these bases to host staff training.

An IC industrial park will also be built in the Cooperation Zone to create a zero capital startup platform for startup individuals, groups and companies, to whom rent waivers will be offered. The operator of the industrial park will also be rewarded with up to RMB10 million when the revenue generated from main businesses and the number of on-site staff reach certain growth indicators.

Chip industry growing robustly

Prof Elvis Mak Pui In, interim director of the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI in the University of Macau, said that since the kick-off of the Cooperation Zone less than two years ago, there were already a small number of chip companies established and growing robustly. He noted that talent was the main driving force for technological advancement, and favourable conditions must be in place to retain these talents in the Cooperation Zone. The new policy presented incentives in all aspects, which would not only attract large tech companies but also provide tremendous support and development opportunities for startup companies.

Prof Mak added, UM had graduated many outstanding master’s and PhD students in related disciplines over the years but many had moved on to the Chinese mainland and overseas because there was limited room for development in Macao. The establishment of the Cooperation Zone and the integration of Hengqin and Macao would help to create an environment where the market and talent serve and benefit each other.

Leveraging digital economy to achieve greater synergy

He pointed out that UM had good connections with many research teams, universities and entreprises around the world. And the state key laboratory in UM had abundant knowledge and technologies that could be translated into products according to market demands in the future. This would provide great development opportunities for both local graduates and those returning from overseas. In addition, the Macao SAR government and the Hengqin administration had great determination to promote the IC industry, as evidenced by this policy. If all these efforts added together, it would bring about huge synergy.

The IC industry is a leading and fundamental industry that has a strategic bearing on our country’s overall socioeconomic development. It is the core industry that advances the upgrading of the digital economy and the foundation for quality development of new infrastructure. Last year the total output of the IC industry in our country exceeded RMB1,000 billion. Regarding this Prof Mak has the following view. Chips are one of the most imported products in China in recent years. If China can gradually build up its ability in chip designing and R&D, it could reduce its reliance on other countries and manufacture its own chips. This not only allows for the use of China’s own R&D funding and capital but also helps nurture computer and electrical engineers and give rise to many startup companies.

Motivating Macao people to join high tech industries

He hoped that the government, the education and business sectors could work together to improve the understanding of the younger generation about the career prospects in and the promising future of the IC industry, so as to encourage more young people to study related disciplines and join the tech industry. The government should also seize this moment and opportunity and strive to keep these professionals in the Cooperation Zone in the next five years, so that more companies are willing to extend their businesses there. Where there is business there is capital. And more jobs will be created to inspire more Macao people to pursue a career in the high tech industry.

Source: Macao Daily News