The delegation of 17 local companies is part of a selected group certified by the Macao Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) under the Technology Company Certification Program. They have been identified by the Macao government as qualified companies in the area of innovation and are part of a growth ladder program that aims to support their development and expansion.
It is in this context that Sands China organized the trip, which was co-organized by DSEDT, supported by the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) and coordinated by the Sands Resorts Incubation Center. Inaugurated in 2023, the incubation center is a Sands China initiative aimed at encouraging technological innovation, discovering local innovative enterprises with development potential, and introducing innovative solutions for smart integrated resorts.
By attending the world’s largest technology fair, from November 11 to 13, the entrepreneurs were able to get to know the technologies and companies that are betting on the future, while also taking the opportunity to highlight Macao as a platform for Sino-Portuguese ties, with visits to the Portuguese companies that have been making the most headlines internationally.
This was the first time that a large group of entrepreneurs from Macao attended the Web Summit. With this initiative, Sands China became the first integrated resort operator from Macao to organize such a tour to Lisbon.
New bridges
Aside from the sessions attended at the Web Summit, the entrepreneurs’ agenda also included contact points with Google, Cisco, electronic payment companies such as Visa or Microsoft, not to mention Samsung Next.
Aside from the sessions attended at the Web Summit, the entrepreneurs’ agenda also included contact points with Google, Cisco, electronic payment companies such as Visa or Microsoft, not to mention Samsung Next. They were also able to get to know some of the start-ups present at the fair and explore the most advantageous services for their operations individually.
We can go abroad, look at the market and see what AI technologies are being developed.
Victor Leong, executive director of VastCom Technology
Victor Ieong, executive director of VastCom Technology Limited, was one of the entrepreneurs who joined the delegation and spoke to PLATFORM. Established in Macao in 2010, VastCom has proven itself in the IT sector, providing services and products in the areas of cybersecurity and cloud computing, among others, with connections to the Hong Kong and Singapore markets. This wasn’t Ieong’s first time at the Web Summit, but he stresses that of all the others he’s attended, this fair is the one that “gives you a vision of what’s going to happen in the future”.
Regarding the DSEDT certification, the VastCom executive is grateful for the “greater recognition” from the government, highlighting the trip to Lisbon as an example of what the certification brings. “It is helpful for us to get financial support for this visit. We can go abroad, look at the market and see what AI technologies are being developed”.
The Web Summit, held in Lisbon from November 11 to 13, is one of the largest annual high-tech conferences in the world.
We also want to develop the technology sector in conjunction with the Greater Bay Area.
Ming Ieong, general manager of Alpha Solution
Ming Ieong, general manager of Alpha Solution, “had known Lisbon for some time”, but only “as a leisure city”.
On his return to Macao, the e-commerce company representative is bringing more ideas with him “We see that Portugal will have a great development in technology in the coming years and we can bring a lot of ideas to Macao. We also want to develop the technology sector in conjunction with the Greater Bay Area and I think there are many new ideas we can develop”.
I was interested in talking to entrepreneurs to get new ideas, not just from Portuguese companies, but above all from Europe.
Nick Ng, executive director of BoardWare Intelligence Technology
Nick Ng, executive director of BoardWare Intelligence Technology Limited, was also among the delegation. The company, which was recently awarded a medal of merit by the Macao SAR Government, wants to develop new products with AI, so its visit to the Web Summit could prove productive.
“I was interested in talking to entrepreneurs to get new ideas, not just from Portuguese companies, but above all from Europe. The business ideas are different from those in China. There’s another angle, and it’s great to have this opportunity because of the Macao government’s certification program. This is the first group of certified companies, and I look forward to more opportunities in the coming years”, he said.
