Welcome to visiting the website of the Macao Foundation.

The Macao Foundation was established in 2001, following the merger of the former Macau Foundation that was founded in 1984, and the Macau Foundation for Development and Cooperation, which was founded in 1998. Its objective is to promote, develop and research on the culture, community, economy, education, science, academics and philanthropic activities, as well as activities that promote Macao.

The development of the Macao Foundation can be divided into several stages. Before 1984, the former Macau Foundation exercised only a few small-scale philanthropic activities. In 1998, the Foundation was delegated by the Administration to acquire the University of East Asia and took over its management, thus dedicated fully to foster talents for the period of transition and to build a tertiary education system. In autumn 1991, the University of East Asia was renamed the University of Macau. The structure of the University was adjusted by setting up separately the Macau Polytechnic Institute and the former Asia (Macau) Open University, while the Foundation continued to support the construction of the campus of the University. Many academic and administrative buildings, the Student Activities Centre, the underground car park and International Library on campus nowadays were completed under the positive support of the Macau Foundation.

From 1992 onwards, the former Macau Foundation focused on promoting education, science and culture of Macao, by assisting the establishment of several scientific and academic institutions in Macao and the United Nations University International Institute of Software Technology to set up its office in Macao. The Foundation also accepted the delegation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Education Commission to set up a station to accept applications for postgraduate programs for mainland China, and began to award postgraduate scholarships and scholarships for foreign students coming to study in Macao. The Foundation also organised activities such as the Macao Literary Prize, Essay Competition for Reviews of Macao Publications, the “Macao in My Heart” International Chinese Essay Contest, art performances and exhibitions, as well as the Tour for Outstanding Students in Macao.

The Macau Foundation also began conducting research and publications in 1994 by demonstrating a series of academic reports concerning Macao’s politics, law, economy, culture and society. The UNESCO Centre of Macau was set up in 1998, and the Macau Virtual Library project inaugurated. The Macau Foundation for Development and Cooperation, established then, also played a positive role in safeguarding and exalting the unique culture of Macao and enhancing Macao’s connections with its overseas communities around the world.

Upon the institution of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Government decided to merge the two public foundations that share similar objectives to become the new Macao Foundation in 2001. Apart from succeeding the previous tasks adopted by the two foundations, the new Macao Foundation has also launched many initiatives, by injecting resources to foster professionals that are much needed for Macao’s development and to improve infrastructure in education and medical care. The Macao Foundation has also enhanced sponsorships to associations and institutions, and has supported the Science and Technology Development Fund. The Foundation has positively prepared and built the Macao Science Center, and participates in its management and operations.

The Macao Foundation will continue to keep pace with the times by assisting the Government in carrying out its policies by utilising well the resources to establish a close partnership with different associations and institutions to conduct activities that meet the objectives of the Foundation. Together we work to promote the stability, harmony and progress of the community, to foster the growth of the civil society, and to powerfully enhance academic research and cultural activities, and thus contributing our efforts to shape the complexion of Macao as a cultural city and to promote the sustainable development of the Special Administrative Region.