All departments under the Executive Committee:
The Several Measures to Further Support the High-Quality Development of the Biomedicine and Healthcare-related Industries in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin have been deliberated and approved by the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, which are hereby issued for your conscientious implementation. Should any issues arise during implementation, please promptly report them to the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.
Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin
May 30, 2025
Several Measures to Further Support the High-Quality Development of the Biomedicine and Healthcare-related Industries in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin
Contents
Chapter I Support for the Development of Benchmark Projects
Chapter II Promotion of the “Macao Registration + Hengqin Production” Brands
Chapter III Support for the International Development of Macao and Hengqin Enterprises
Chapter IV Strong Support for the Development of the TCM Industry
Chapter V Enhancement of R&D Support
Chapter VI Optimization of the Industrial Development Ecosystem
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
To implement the Master Plan for the Construction of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, promote the development of Macao branded traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry, accelerate the growth of healthcare-related industries with a focus on TCM research and manufacturing, build an internationally leading and distinctive new highland for biomedicine and healthcare-related industries, and promote the moderate diversification of Macao’s economy, these Measures have been formulated according to the actual conditions of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as the “Cooperation Zone”).
Chapter 1. Support for the Development of Benchmark Projects
Article 1.Support for the Establishment of Benchmark Projects
Efforts shall be made to attract globally competitive industrial projects characterized by strong research and development and good growth. For projects that conduct research and development in the strong supported areas of the Cooperation Zone and have a cumulative new paid-in capital contribution in cash of no less than RMB 10 million, a reward of 10% of their new paid-in capital contribution shall be granted, capped at a maximum of RMB 20 million. This reward shall be disbursed in two installments in a 4:6 ratio.
Support shall be provided for the establishment of high-quality Macao-invested projects in the Cooperation Zone. For Macao-invested projects that meet the requirements of this article, a reward of 12% of their new paid-in capital contribution shall be granted, capped at a maximum of RMB 20 million. This reward shall be disbursed in two installments in a 4:6 ratio.
Article 2. Support for Benchmark Projects to Increase Investment
For benchmark projects that meet the requirements of Article 1 and construct biomedicine and healthcare-related laboratories or GMP workshops, a one-time subsidy shall be granted at a standard of RMB 2,000 per square meter, capped at a maximum of RMB 5 million.
Chapter IIPromotion of the “Macao Registration + Hengqin Production” Brands
Article 3. Support for “Production Supervised by Macao”, “Produced by Macao”, or “Design by Macao”
For biomedicine and healthcare-related products approved and registered in Macao and produced in the Cooperation Zone, and permitted to use the signs “production supervised by Macao”, “produced by Macao” or “design by Macao”, a subsidy of 20% of actual production costs (excluding raw material costs, the same below) shall be granted to the marketing authorization holders (or registrants, filers, the same below) associated with companies in the Cooperation Zone, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 20 million for each product. The annual total subsidy for each institution shall not exceed RMB 40 million.
Article 4. Support for Enterprises to Produce in Hengqin
For biomedicine and healthcare-related products that meet the requirements stipulated in Articles 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15, are approved and registered by the National Medical Products Administration (hereinafter referred to as “NMPA”), the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, and are produced within the Cooperation Zone, a subsidy of 20% of actual production costs shall be granted to the marketing authorization holders, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 18 million for each product. The annual total subsidy for each institution shall not exceed RMB 36 million.
Article 5. Support for Enterprises to Obtain Production Licenses for Biomedicine and Healthcare-related Products
1. For obtaining a drug production license (Categories A, B, C, D), either upon its first issuance or through purchase, transfer, or introduction from outside the Cooperation Zone, a reward of RMB 1 million shall be granted, which may be supplemented if the enterprise meets the following criteria:
(1) For enterprises that have obtained the aforementioned drug license, if production commences within 24 months, a reward of 40% of the purchase cost of the product approval, as included under R&D expenses, shall be granted in the year following the commencement of production, provided that this reward does not exceed 2% of the sales revenue for that year. The annual reward obtainable by the enterprise shall be disbursed over 3 years: 30% in the first year, 30% in the second year, and 40% in the third year.
(2) The cumulative reward for a single product shall not exceed RMB 20 million, and the total annual reward for each institution shall not exceed RMB 50 million.
2. For obtaining a new medical device production license (Categories II and III) for the first time, a reward of RMB 500,000 shall be granted;
3. For obtaining a new food production license for the first time, a reward of RMB 300,000 shall be granted;
4. For obtaining a new license for the production of special-use cosmetics for the first time, a reward of RMB 200,000 shall be granted.
Chapter III Support for the International Development of Macao and Hengqin Enterprises
Article 6. Support for Biomedicine and Healthcare-related Products Going Global
1. Encouraging international registration by pharmaceutical enterprises
For each product for which an international registration approval is obtained, a one-time subsidy of 50% of the registration fees incurred to obtain the approval shall be granted, capped at a maximum of RMB 500,000. If substantive export is achieved, an additional one-time reward of RMB 300,000 shall be granted.
2. Encouraging drug license-out
For overseas licensing transactions with an upfront payment of RMB 100 million or more (where the two parties have no investment or other affiliation), a subsidy shall be granted to the licensor enterprise in accordance with regulations, with the subsidy amount not exceeding 50% of its investment in third-party and other professional services, up to a maximum annual subsidy of RMB 6 million.
Article 7. Encouraging the Introduction of Imported New Drugs
For exclusive imported drugs with significant clinical advantages and good market prospects, after their marketing authorization holder obtains the drug registration certificate from the NMPA, a subsidy of 30% of the actual investment costs for each product shall be granted, with a maximum of up to RMB 36 million.
Article 8. Strengthening Quality Standardization Management
For institutions established in the Cooperation Zone that pass the Good Manufacturing Practice (hereinafter referred to as GMP) certification by China or international GMP certification (from the U.S., Japan, Australia, EU, World Health Organization, PIC/S, “Belt and Road” initiative countries, ASEAN and Portuguese-speaking countries), a subsidy of 50% of the actual investment costs incurred in the Cooperation Zone shall be granted, capped at a maximum of up to RMB 1.2 million.
Chapter 4. Strong Support for the Development of the TCM Industry
Article 9. Support for TCM R&D
The Cooperation Zone supports the R&D of innovative TCMs, modified new TCMs, complex-formulated TCM preparations derived from ancient classical formulas, TCMs with identical names and identical formulas, and TCM preparations:
1. Support for the R&D of innovative TCMs
(1) Encouraging the independent R&D of innovative TCMs. For innovative TCMs, a subsidy amounting to 50% of the actual R&D expenses shall be provided. Specifically, a maximum subsidy of RMB 11 million, RMB 14 million, RMB 26 million, and RMB 40 million shall be granted for obtaining clinical trial approvals and completing Phase I, II, and III clinical trials, respectively. Breakthrough therapy drugs that receive a drug registration certificate shall be granted a one-time reward of RMB 15 million.
(2) Encouraging the introduction of mature innovative TCMs. For clinical trial approvals for mature innovative TCMs under development that are purchased, transferred, or introduced from outside the Cooperation Zone, where Phase II or III clinical trials are commenced within 12 months, a subsidy amounting to 50% of the actual R&D expenses incurred at each stage shall be provided, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 26 million and RMB 40 million for the respective stages. Concurrently, after the completion of Phase III clinical trials for the product, an application may be submitted for a subsidy on the purchase of the clinical trial approval, amounting to 40% of the purchase cost categorized as R&D expenses by the enterprise. The maximum total amount of the aforementioned subsidies for a single product shall not exceed RMB 91 million, and shall also not exceed 80% of the total R&D investment for that drug made by the enterprise within the Cooperation Zone.
(3) The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 150 million.
2. Support for the R&D of modified new TCMs. For modified new TCMs, a subsidy amounting to 40% of the actual R&D expenses incurred shall be provided. A maximum subsidy of RMB 3 million, RMB 4 million, RMB 14 million, and RMB 20 million shall be awarded for obtaining clinical trial approvals and completing Phase I, II, and III clinical trials, respectively. The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 40 million.
3. Support for the R&D of complex-formulated TCM preparations derived from ancient classical formulas. For complex-formulated TCM preparations derived from ancient classical formulas, a subsidy amounting to 40% of the actual R&D expenses incurred shall be granted, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 6 million for each product. The total annual subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 12 million.
4. Support for the R&D of TCMs with identical names and formulas. For TCMs with identical names and formulas, a subsidy shall be provided at 40% of the actual R&D expenses, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 500,000 per product. The maximum annual subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 2.5 million.
5. Support for the R&D of TCM preparations. For TCM preparations prepared by medical institutions that obtain a registration number from the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration or a record number for traditional TCM preparations, a subsidy of 50% of the actual R&D expenses shall be provided, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 300,000 per product. The maximum annual subsidy for each institution (or entrusted R&D institution) under this item shall not exceed RMB 3 million.
Article 10. Support for the Formulation of TCM Standards
1. The Cooperation Zone supports the research and formulation of new standards for TCM materials, standards for TCM decoction pieces, and processing specifications. For each standard recognized and included by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, a reward of RMB 120,000 shall be granted to the research institution; for each standard newly included in national standards, a reward of RMB 1.2 million shall be granted to the research institution.
2. Support shall be provided for the research and formulation of new standards for TCM materials, standards for TCM decoction pieces, and processing specifications based on biosynthesis technology or artificial cultivation. For each standard recognized and included by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration or national standards, a reward of RMB 1.2 million shall be granted to the research institution.
3. The annual total reward for each institution under this article shall not exceed RMB 5 million.
Article 11. Encouraging the Macao Registration of TCM Products Developed in Hengqin
1. For innovative TCMs, modified new TCMs, complex-formulated TCM preparations derived from ancient classical formulas, and TCMs with identical names and identical formulas that are developed in the Cooperation Zone and have obtained a clinical trial pre-approval or registration certificate from the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government through a Macao company affiliated with an enterprise in the Cooperation Zone, the subsidy or reward shall be executed at 120% of the standards stipulated in Articles 9 and 10, based on the R&D progress and actual R&D expenses.
2. For independently developed products for which applications are filed simultaneously in Macao and the Chinese mainland through a Macao company affiliated with an enterprise in the Cooperation Zone, and which have obtained approval from the NMPA or the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration in the Mainland, as well as a clinical trial pre-approval or registration certificate from the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, the difference shall be supplemented according to the subsidy standard for Macao registration. For an applicant to apply for this subsidy, its approval for registration in the Chinese mainland must have been filed through an enterprise in the Cooperation Zone.
Chapter VEnhancement of R&D Support
Article 12. Support for R&D of Biologics and Chemical Drugs
1. Support for the R&D of innovative biologics and chemical drugs
(1) For innovative biologics and chemical drugs, a subsidy amounting to 40% of the actual R&D expenses shall be provided. The maximum subsidies for obtaining clinical approvals and completing Phase I, II, and III clinical trials are as follows: RMB 10 million, RMB 12 million, RMB 24 million, and RMB 36 million, respectively. For breakthrough therapy drugs that receive a drug registration certificate, a subsidy of RMB 12 million shall be granted. The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 120 million.
(2) For clinical trial approvals for mature innovative biologics and chemical drugs under development that are purchased, transferred, or introduced from outside the Cooperation Zone, where Phase II or III clinical trials are commenced within 12 months, a subsidy amounting to 40% of the actual R&D expenses incurred at each stage shall be provided, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 24 million and RMB 36 million for the respective stages. Concurrently, after the completion of Phase III clinical trials for the product, an application may be submitted for a subsidy on the purchase of the clinical trial approval, amounting to 40% of the purchase cost categorized as R&D expenses by the enterprise. The maximum total amount of the aforementioned subsidies for a single product shall not exceed RMB 82 million, and shall also not exceed 80% of the total R&D investment for that drug made by the enterprise within the Cooperation Zone.
(3) The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 120 million.
2. For generic drugs approved under the new classification for chemical drugs and drugs that have passed the quality and efficacy consistency evaluation (referring to non-BE-exempted products; different specifications are considered as one product), upon verification, a subsidy of RMB 2 million shall be granted for each product. If a generic drug of an enterprise in the Cooperation Zone, approved under the new classification for chemical drugs or having passed the quality and efficacy consistency evaluation, is among the first three of its kind to be approved in China, an additional subsidy of RMB 1 million shall be granted. The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 15 million.
Article 13. Support for Medical Device R&D
For Class II and III medical devices (excluding Class II diagnostic reagents and device components) that first obtain a medical device registration certificate and hold invention patents, a subsidy of 40% of the actual R&D expenses incurred shall be granted, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 3.6 million for Class II devices and RMB 6 million for Class III devices, respectively. For those entering the special review process for innovative medical devices at the provincial or national levels, the maximum subsidy amounts can be increased to RMB 4 million and RMB 7 million, respectively. The total annual subsidy for each institution under this article shall not exceed RMB 18 million.
Article 14. Support for the R&D of Healthcare-related Products
1. Support for the R&D of health foods:
For obtaining an approved registration certificate for health foods and meeting the relevant conditions, a subsidy of RMB 600,000 shall be granted for each certificate obtained. The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 6 million.
2. Encouraging the registration of formula food for special medical purposes:
For obtaining an approved registration certificate for formula food for special medical purposes and meeting the relevant conditions, a subsidy of RMB 2 million shall be granted for each certificate obtained. The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 10 million.
Article 15. Support for Cosmetics R&D
1. For obtaining a registration certificate for special-use cosmetics issued by the NMPA for the first time and meeting the relevant conditions, a subsidy of RMB 600,000 shall be granted for each certificate obtained. The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 6 million.
2. For newly registered raw materials that are used for the first time in cosmetics and are included in China’s inventory of existing cosmetic ingredients, and meet the relevant conditions, a one-time subsidy of RMB 1.2 million shall be granted for each item. The annual total subsidy for each institution under this item shall not exceed RMB 6 million.
Chapter VI Optimization of the Industrial Development Ecosystem
Article 16. Support for High-Quality Industry-Academia-Research Development
To foster high-quality industry-academia-research collaboration within the Cooperation Zone, high-quality healthcare-related enterprises shall be supported and encouraged to partner with research institutes and medical institutions (e.g., tertiary hospitals or national regional medical centers) located within the Cooperation Zone. For such collaborative projects, a 1:1 matching subsidy shall be granted based on the enterprise’s invested funds, capped at RMB 8 million per project. The total annual subsidy for any single entity shall not exceed RMB 24 million.
Article 17. Support for the Construction of Industrial Service Platforms
1. Support shall be provided to develop Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs). This includes the construction of specialized technical service platforms for drug screening, drug synthesis, drug toxicology research, efficacy evaluation, laboratory animal services, new drug applications, third-party testing (related to the R&D of drugs, medical devices, and healthcare-related products), industrial pilot-scale experiments and production, Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) comprehensive services, and drug R&D big data services. A one-time subsidy of 40% of the total project investment shall be granted, capped at a maximum of RMB 36 million.
2. For laboratories that are granted accreditation by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) for the first time, a one-time reward of RMB 300,000 shall be granted.
Article 18. Support for Established Industrial Service Platforms
1. For established public service and specialized technical platforms in the biomedicine and healthcare-related sector that are in operation, a subsidy equivalent to 20% of the contract amount corresponding to the actual services provided to and paid for by institutions within the Cooperation Zone and cooperative institutions in Macao (not having an investment relationship with the platform) in the previous year shall be granted. The annual total subsidy shall not exceed RMB 12 million.
2. For institutions within the Cooperation Zone utilizing services from the aforementioned platforms, a subsidy of 20% of the contract amount corresponding to the actual services purchased shall be granted. The total annual subsidy for each institution shall not exceed RMB 1 million.
Article 19. Support for Clinical Medical Institutions
For clinical medical institutions that obtain National Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification, a subsidy of 40% of the total project investment shall be granted, with a maximum of RMB 6 million. An additional reward of RMB 600,000 shall be granted for each newly added GCP specialty. The total annual rewards and subsidies for each institution shall not exceed RMB 12 million.
Article 20. Support for Biomedicine and Healthcare-related Industrial Activities
For industry associations with significant influence established in the Cooperation Zone, starting from the second year after establishment, a subsidy shall be granted based on the activities conducted in the previous year at a standard of RMB 20,000 per event, up to a maximum annual total of RMB 1 million.
Article 21. Support for the Development of Talent Training Bases
Support shall be provided for institutions within the Cooperation Zone to conduct training for talent in the biomedicine and healthcare-related industries. Training may cover R&D techniques and manufacturing processes, registration application and regulatory policies, biomedical research methods and practices, quality standard research, as well as corporate management, intellectual property protection, and investment and financing. A subsidy of up to 50% of the actual training expenses, with a maximum annual subsidy of RMB 1 million, shall be provided.
Article 22. Subsidy for Environmental Impact Assessment and Hazardous Waste Disposal for R&D Carriers
1. Support for environmental impact assessment for R&D carriers.
For R&D carriers that have passed a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval, where resident R&D projects that meet the requirements must prepare an EIA report, the lessee may, after obtaining the project’s EIA approval document and completing the acceptance filing, be granted a subsidy of 30% of the EIA service fees, with a maximum of RMB 50,000 for a single project. The total annual subsidy for each institution shall not exceed RMB 200,000.
2. Subsidy for hazardous waste disposal fees.
Support shall be provided for institutions within the Cooperation Zone that commission qualified professional agencies to dispose of medical waste and wastewater, with a subsidy of 50% of the actual commissioned service fees, limited to a maximum annual subsidy of RMB 200,000 for each institution.
Chapter 7. Supplementary Provisions
Article 23. Application Conditions
Reward and subsidy amounts for applicants shall be contingent upon the number of their on-site R&D personnel and industrialization investment.
Article 24. Transition
These Measures shall take effect on January 1, 2025, and remain in effect until December 31, 2027.
Enterprises applying under the R&D expense categories of these Measures may include eligible R&D expenses incurred as early as January 1, 2022, the start date of the previous policy, the Several Measures to Support the High-Quality Development of the Biomedicine and Healthcare-related Industries in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (No. 59 [2022] of Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin).
Article 25. Requirements for Applicants
To be eligible for support under these Measures, an applicant must be an independent legal entity that is legally registered, has substantive operations in the Cooperation Zone, and is engaged in business related to the biomedicine and healthcare-related industries.
Article 26. Registration of Applicants
To ensure effective rolling management of policy funds, entities applying under these Measures must promptly register their on-site office addresses on the enterprise and public benefit service platform of the Cooperation Zone (https://ycfz.hengqin.gov.cn) or other platforms designated by the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone. These Measures shall apply only to entities completing such registration.
Article 27. Applicable Rules
Applicants receiving rewards and subsidies under these Measures are not precluded from applying for other policy support and preferential treatment from national or Guangdong provincial authorities, except where such support is to be borne or matched by the Cooperation Zone’s finances, or as otherwise stipulated;
Where these Measures overlap or intersect with other policies issued by the Cooperation Zone or with similar policies for which higher-level authorities require the Cooperation Zone’s finance to bear or match the funds, applicants shall select one policy and shall not make duplicate applications, unless otherwise stipulated;
Subsidy-related clauses in these Measures are applicable only to investments made by the applicant using its own funds or self-raised funds.
Article 28.Right of Interpretation
The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone shall interpret these Measures, formulate implementation rules, and organize their execution.
This English translation is for reference only. The Chinese version shall prevail in case of any inconsistencies.