Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macau Science and Technology Program (Category C)

Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macau S&T Program Category C

Funds Hong Kong and Macau university teams with Shenzhen partners through STIC HKMO research collaboration support.

Eligibility · China, HK, MO

The Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Macau Science and Technology Program Category C is a grant instrument administered by the Shenzhen Science, Technology and Innovation Commission (STIC-SZ) to fund joint R&D collaboration across the Greater Bay Area. Category C is the specific sub-track that enables Hong Kong and Macau university principal investigators to receive Shenzhen municipal research funding directly — an arrangement uncommon for mainland Chinese municipal funders. Confirmed active cycles include 2023 and 2024. Eligible Hong Kong institutions include HKU, CUHK, CUHK-Shenzhen, and HKUST. The program sits within STIC-SZ's broader international cooperation portfolio alongside the separate Shenzhen–International cooperation program.

Eligibility is restricted to universities and public research institutions based in Shenzhen, Hong Kong, or Macau; for-profit companies are not eligible. The cross-boundary mandate requires genuine joint activity between a Shenzhen-side partner and an HK or MO-side partner — solo applications from either side alone are not permitted. Award amounts per project are not disclosed in available source materials; applicants should consult the official STIC-SZ call notice for each cycle to confirm funding levels, application portal instructions, and submission deadlines.

Category C positions itself as the primary GBA science diplomacy instrument for Shenzhen, complementing HKUST(SZ), CUHK-Shenzhen, and SIAT as structural cross-border research nodes. Applicants from HK and Macau institutions benefit from a rare funding channel into the Shenzhen municipal budget without needing a mainland registered entity, making it a strategically important access point for cross-border academic teams seeking co-funding for joint projects.