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Malta - National Programme Information

National policies

The Maltese Government is highly committed to making research and innovation a reality for Malta and is investing more public funds in research infrastructure and human capacity building and in tying closer links between academia and the industry. The National Strategic Research & Innovation Plan was launched last July 2006 and provides a number of measures towards enhancing Malta’s R&I capacity. The MCST is responsible for implementing this Strategic Plan.

In this regard, and keeping in mind Malta’s limited resources, the strategy has identified four sectors in which to target funds for research. These include ICT, High Value added Manufacturing Services including in the Health and Biotech Sectors, Energy and the Environment, which includes a MARINE aspect.

Priority areas

Research efforts focus on monitoring the quality of the coastal and marine environments, with little R&D investment in industrial applications. Moreover, a limited capacity, both in infrastructure and human capital, allows for growth in a restricted number of research areas.

The Program allows for funding research in Marine thematic areas with a focus on water, desalination, waste rehabilitation technologies, marine management and marine biotechnology.

Funding organisations

Malta Council for Science & Technology (MCST) is an agency that has recently been relocated within the Office of the Prime Minister and has thus gained quite an important political profile in this sense. Its main roles currently include implementing the National Strategic Plan for Malta for Research and Innovation and also co-ordinating participation of Malta in the EU’s Framework Programme. It also is partner in a number of FP projects.

The MCST is partner to an ERANET Project entitled Marinera ( www.marinera.net) ; this project has mapped marine research programmes in the 13 partner countries and is now working towards a joint call for proposals in the marine. Malta participates in this project by providing its experience with running national funding programmes.

Programme information

Malta does not have a dedicated Marine Research Programme where government specifically allocates public funds for research in the marine environment. In 2004, Government launched the RTDI Funding Programme with a budget that funded around 14 projects. Only one project out of those selected for funding has a marine theme (it address aspects of shrimp aquaculture). More recently in 2006, Government launched the R&I Funding Programme; this programme allocates funds for research projects through a competitive open call for proposals. Proposals that fall within the above-mentioned priority areas are given precedence over the rest. At the moment the proposals are being evaluated and the results of such evaluation should soon be announced.

Contact Point

Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST)

Contact: Lisa Pace

Villa Bighi, Bighi, Kalkara CSP 12, Malta

Tel +356 21 660340

Fax +356 21 660341

URL:

www.mcst.org.mt

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