The University of Macau’s (UM) Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) held its first expert committee meeting on Tuesday to review and advise on the newly launched ‘Health+’ Accelerator Programme, an initiative aimed at advancing innovation and technology transfer in the Big Health sector, according to a UM statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the meeting focused on the direction and development of the ‘Health+’ Accelerator Programme, which is funded by the Macau Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT).
The statement noted that committee members spoke highly of the programme’s positioning and early progress, while offering suggestions on future strategies and the translation of research outcomes into practical applications.
Chaired by Elaine Leung Lai Han, head of CIE and professor at the UM Faculty of Health Sciences, the meeting featured opening remarks from Ip Kuai Lam, member of the Administrative Committee of FDCT; Claudia Xu Jian, vice rector of UM; and David Ai, chairman of the expert committee, the statement said.
According to the statement, Leung outlined CIE’s recent work and highlighted that the ‘Health+’ Accelerator Programme is Macau’s first accelerator dedicated specifically to the Big Health sector.
The programme aimed to “systematically advance the transformation of high-quality Big Health research achievements in Macau and Hengqin” by supporting proof-of-concept development and improving market alignment, the statement quoted Leung as saying, as it sought to help projects overcome the so-called “Valley of Death” between laboratory research and commercialisation, while building platforms that connect start-ups with resources and investment.
Committee members engaged in in-depth discussions on the accelerator’s future development, providing strategic recommendations to strengthen its implementation and ensure sustainable growth, the statement added.
The expert committee, according to the statement, comprised representatives from industry, academia, research, healthcare and investment sectors, reflecting a cross-disciplinary approach to fostering innovation in the Big Health field.
The ‘Health+’ Accelerator Programme laid a solid foundation for promoting the commercialisation of health-related research, striving to reinforce UM’s role in driving innovation and supporting the development of Macau’s Big Health industry.
This handout photo provided by the University of Macau (UM) on Wednesday shows its first expert committee meeting on the newly launched ‘Health+’ Accelerator Programme at the public university in Hengqin on Tuesday.
