Second ‘Macao Technological Innovation Exploration in Lisbon’ a Success – PR Newswire

Report on the Macao Technological Innovation Exploration Initiative in Lisbon

Introduction and Strategic Context

A five-day initiative, the “Macao Technological Innovation Exploration in Lisbon,” was successfully conducted from November 10-14, 2025. This collaborative project was jointly organised by Sands China and the Macao Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), with support from the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT). The program was designed to advance Macao’s technological innovation sector, aligning with global development agendas by fostering international exchange and sustainable growth. A delegation of 38 representatives, including 25 DSEDT-certified Macao enterprises and startups, participated in the program.

Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The primary objective of the initiative was to promote the long-term, sustainable growth of Macao’s technology industry. This aligns directly with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By supporting local technology enterprises and startups, the initiative fosters economic diversification and promotes productive employment, moving Macao towards a more resilient and sustainable economic model.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The program’s core focus is on building a robust innovation ecosystem. It facilitates access to advanced technologies, encourages research and development, and upgrades the industrial capabilities of Macao’s enterprises.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, uniting the private sector (Sands China), government bodies (DSEDT, FDCT), and international entities (Portuguese enterprises, AICEP) to share knowledge, technology, and financial resources for achieving sustainable development.

Key Activities and Outcomes

The itinerary was structured to maximize knowledge transfer, networking, and partnership-building, contributing directly to the aforementioned SDGs.

1. Participation in the Web Summit: Delegates attended the world’s largest technology conference, which attracted over 71,000 participants from 157 countries. This activity provided critical exposure to global innovation trends in fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 9 by fostering technological learning and adaptation.
2. Technology Business Networking Forum: Sands China hosted a forum to connect Macao enterprises with their Portuguese counterparts. This event served as a platform for building cross-border collaborations, a key target of SDG 17. Presentations from Macao and Portuguese companies opened pathways for future investment and joint ventures. The Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP) endorsed the forum, highlighting cooperation in sustainable development as a shared strategic priority.
3. Structured Enterprise Visits: The delegation visited innovative Portuguese companies to gain practical insights.
   • Bhout: A developer of AI-powered fitness technology, showcasing how innovation can be applied to promote well-being, a concept related to SDG 3.
   • Lipolis: An innovation hub supporting technology and health sector startups, demonstrating a successful model for building infrastructure that supports innovation and entrepreneurship, central to SDG 9.
4. Concrete Opportunities Workshop: A workshop led by an innovation expert from Singularity University Portugal guided delegates in identifying and mapping tangible opportunities for cooperation. This capacity-building exercise empowered participants to translate knowledge into actionable strategies for sustainable economic growth (SDG 8).

Stakeholder Perspectives and Future Outlook

Statements from key stakeholders underscored the initiative’s commitment to sustainable development. Sands China reiterated its dedication to promoting “tourism + technology” and leveraging Macao’s role as a platform for global partnerships (SDG 17). The DSEDT emphasized its strategy to accelerate Macao’s economic transformation through innovation-driven development, positioning the city as a hub for international technological resources (SDG 9). AICEP affirmed the strategic importance of the Portugal-China relationship in advancing innovation and sustainable development.

Conclusion: Advancing Sustainable Development through Technological Integration

The Macao Technological Innovation Exploration in Lisbon successfully facilitated global integration for Macao’s technology sector. By creating a platform for knowledge exchange and international collaboration, the initiative made significant contributions to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The program serves as a model for leveraging public-private partnerships to drive sustainable economic diversification and supports Macao’s long-term development as a world centre of tourism and leisure built on a foundation of modern technology and innovation.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights initiatives and collaborations that directly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on economic diversification through technology, fostering innovation, and building international partnerships aligns with the following SDGs:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article discusses efforts to promote the “long-term growth of Macao’s technological innovation industry” and contribute to the city’s “diversified economic development.” This aligns with SDG 8’s aim to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: This is a central theme. The entire initiative, “Macao Technological Innovation Exploration in Lisbon,” is focused on “technological innovation,” exploring “cutting-edge technologies,” supporting “Macao startups,” and enhancing Macao’s “capacity for technological innovation.” These actions are at the core of SDG 9.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article emphasizes collaboration at multiple levels. The event is “Jointly organised by Sands China and the Macao Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT)” and supported by another government fund. It aims to foster “industry exchange between Macao and Portugal” and build “a bridge of trust, connecting Portugal, China and the Portuguese-speaking world.” This directly reflects the spirit of building partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities described, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Under SDG 8:
  • Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” The article explicitly states the goal is to contribute to “Macao’s diversified economic development” and accelerate its “economic transformation and upgrading through innovation-driven development.”
• Under SDG 9:
  • Target 9.5: “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers…” The initiative supports “research and development of new high-tech local products,” gives delegates an opportunity to “gain knowledge of advanced technology,” and encourages enterprises to “refine their research and development direction.”
  • Target 9.b: “Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries…” The program is designed to support “DSEDT-certified Macao enterprises” and “Macao startups” by providing them with international exposure and opportunities for collaboration, thereby strengthening the local tech ecosystem.
• Under SDG 17:
  • Target 17.6: “Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation…” The exchange between Macao (China) and Lisbon (Portugal) is a clear example of international cooperation to share knowledge on “the latest innovations” and “cutting-edge technologies.”
  • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The event itself is a public-private partnership, being “Jointly organised by Sands China (private sector) and the Macao Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) (public sector),” and “Supported by the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) (public sector).”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides several quantifiable and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicators for Innovation and Economic Growth (Targets 8.2, 9.5):
  • Number of enterprises and startups supported: The article mentions a “38-member delegation comprised representatives from 25 DSEDT-certified Macao enterprises” and “Macao startups incubated within the National Co-working Space scheme.” The total number of enterprises taken on the tours is “42 local enterprises… on the 2024 and 2025 tours.”
  • Number of networking and collaboration opportunities created: The itinerary included a “Technology Business Networking Forum” and a “Concrete Opportunities Workshop” specifically designed to help delegates “find potential cooperation opportunities.”
• Indicators for Partnerships (Targets 17.6, 17.17):
  • Number of multi-stakeholder partnerships: The core organization of the event involves at least three entities: Sands China, DSEDT, and FDCT, demonstrating a functional public-private partnership.
  • Number of international exchange events organized: The article focuses on the “Macao Technological Innovation Exploration in Lisbon,” an annual event.
  • Scale of international participation in related events: The article notes that the Web Summit, a key part of the trip, “drew more than 71,000 visitors from 157 countries,” indicating the global scale of the knowledge-sharing platform the Macao delegation was exposed to.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: prnewswire.com