University research - Malta's priority?

The many initiatives being taken in support of higher education are certainly laudable. Witness, for instance, the massive investment in MCAST, and the wide range of undergraduate courses now available at University. However, as an academic lecturer at the University of Malta (in the biomedical field), and having research very much at heart, I have to say that university-based research is still not being given the priority it deserves.

At a time where excellence has become almost fashionable, I would like to boldly propose that the Maltese government, and indeed first and foremost the University itself, should aim to reach one important target in the next five-ten years: establish the University of Malta as one of the leading 100 universities in the EU (http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2006/ARWU2006_TopEuro.htm). We have made it a success in healthcare, in information technology, in financial services; we must make it consistently among the best in research!

Investment in research would clearly not only benefit the University, but the whole country. When a country invests in research, some time later industry increases its investments in applied research and development. The reason for this is that when universities are generating research, they are generating new ideas that industry can build on, and invest in as applied research and development.

The point I'm trying to make is that the government's investment in university research is very important in driving industry's investments in research and development. Industrial companies often link up with university research, which is at a stage where, with some additional work, it could create a new product or process - and in turn create new jobs. This is the fundamental meaning of the oft-quoted phrase, "a knowledge-based economy".

Research generated by the University can also be used by Government (and other entities) to take informed fact-based decisions in areas as diverse as economics, health, conservation, and geology. Moreover, a university with a distinctive research profile attracts more international students, especially postgraduates; we need only look at the UK, where international students contribute a whopping £5 billion to the UK economy each year. Why can't we share a slice of this cake? Countries like New Zealand, China and Singapore already do.

To get there, we primarily need more 'highly-cited researchers'. In other words, academic researchers who publish their findings regularly in international high-impact journals. Only thus can we show that we are participating in world-class research. To do this, in turn, we require new, state-of-the-art labs. Indeed, most university labs are in dire need of new equipment and refurbishment - as much as any public primary/secondary school, old people's home, landscaped park, promenade, etc.!

In short, there is vital need for a capital expenditure to boost our research facilities and build a strong science community. A revealing example: why does one have sometimes to wait years for approval of purchase of a simple cell culture incubator? Such lack of support hampers us from actively collaborating with foreign universities on potentially good projects.

The other essential requirement is, not surprisingly, to have a research team (typically, M.Phil. and Ph.D. students). The recently inaugurated Malta Government Scholarship Scheme is a step in the right direction, but again, the money has simply to increase because, as it is, the funds being given for direct research spending are very limited indeed. And even the students themselves are barely supported adequately.

The University, on the other hand, must create full-time posts for postgraduate research scientists (i.e. not necessarily lecturers as well).

Thirdly, there are the research grants themselves. Most of us are given what I have to reluctantly describe as pitiful amounts to conduct our research (and one-fifth of the grant is 'lost' as VAT). To make matters worse, the award of grants does not always reward the considerable efforts involved. We are asked to give our projected estimates for costings, but these are all ignored! We have to reapply every year for renewal of the grant; in reputed centres abroad, an approved three-year project is funded for two years, with a detailed progress report being required only for continued funding of the last year.

How can we achieve excellence in these conditions? To begin with, excessive regulation by the University administration has to be removed. It takes ages for an order to be approved. And so, importantly, must the VAT on scientific equipment and research agents.

On the point of research grants, the National Investment Programme has been very welcome by academics in general. However, here again are serious shortcomings because the total amount of money is grossly insufficient for the strong demand. Moreover, a proper peer-reviewing process - including leading scientists from outside the country - should make the evaluation of proposals and decide which ones to fund. If Government can spend Lm250 million on a new hospital, Lm55 million on MCAST, more millions on upgrading of schools, and so on, why cannot the money given for quality research also be adequate? Nations serious about R&D boost spending to at least 1% of GDP. Currently, the figure for Malta is still 0.3%.

Science is very competitive nowadays. We will never make it, if support for science remains limited - and limited support translates into export of the nation's best and brightest, which naturally worsens the situation. Extremely generous funding of basic research underpins success of the United States in research and innovation; the US provides massive federal support for biomedical research in particular. As a side-note, I would also encourage banks to start regularly contributing donations for specific research projects, in a similar vein to their support for artistic/environmental initiatives. Let us not forget that research is one of the most noble of human endeavors!

There can be no question that university research can play a dominant factor in the economic success of a nation. Shall we - academic staff, University administration, Government - take up the challenge and seriously strive to put our University on the international map with regards to research? Or not...?