BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Universities and research institutions in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao are encouraged to participate in the central fiscal science and technology plans, according to guidelines released Monday.

The guidelines were jointly issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Finance.

The guidelines are aimed at implementing the national strategy of innovation-driven development for the new era, promoting sci-tech cooperation between the mainland and HK and Macao, giving play to their own unique sci-tech strengths, supporting sci-tech innovation in HK and Macao, and incentivizing scientists who love the country and HK and Macao to play greater roles in building China into a technology power and making China a country of innovators.

"Following the principle of competition and selecting the best, they can apply to lead the central fiscal science and technology projects and get the funding," said the guidelines.

They can also apply to participate or lead such projects in cooperating with institutions on the mainland.

The guidelines started trial operation Monday.