Respectively, the four research proposals of Macau University of Science and Technology that were accepted by the joint research funding program of the FDCT and the NSFC are the “Research on the Role of Glycomics-Based Glycosylation of Receptors in Cross-Species Transmission of Influenza Virus and the Anti-Virus Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine” by the M.U.S.T. State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, the “Long-time Changes of the Temporal-Spatial Structure and Spatial Environment of the Earth’s Magnetic Field” by the M.U.S.T. Space Science Institute, the “Research on Self-Paced Learning and its Applications in Big Data of Biomedicine” by the Faculty of Information Technology of M.U.S.T., and the “Online/Offline Laboratory for Fabrication of Micro Fibers by Femeto Second Laser and its Sensor Applications” by the Faculty of Information Technology of M.U.S.T.. The acceptance for funding of these projects will further enhance partnership between Macau University of Science and Technology and high-level research institutions and research teams of the mainland, promote mutual exchanges between researchers and graduate students of mainland China and Macau, better utilize the respective strengths of the two parties, and achieve greater mutual progresses.

Organized by the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao Special Administrative Region (FDCT) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and hosted by Macau University of Science and Technology, the Symposium on Applications of Big Data in Traffic, Tourism, and Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Release of Results for the Call for Joint Research Funding Projects by the FDCT and NSFC were jointly held at the conference hall of the Macau Science Museum on November 3, 2016.

At the meeting, an introduction was given of the applications and assessment of the first-ever joint call for research funding projects by FDCT and NSFC; the results of the assessment were subsequently released to the public. After call for proposals and formal examination, a total of 21 applications were preliminarily accepted. After voting, it was finally agreed that the two parties would jointly fund 7 projects, four of which are from Macau University of Science and Technology.

The Symposium held four keynote speeches and 28 panel sessions of presentations, the contents of which address transportation experience of the residents, self-driving cars, prediction of tourist flow, mobile payment by consumers, syndrome diagnosis and syndrome-specific treatment by Traditional Chinese Medicine, molecular simulation of medicines, etc.. By way of in-depth deliberations, the Symposium effectively broadened and deepened the mutual understanding and acknowledgement of the researchers across the two straits and four regions, particularly those of Macau and the mainland, and laid down a solid foundation for more prospective high quality research collaborations.