Promoting research and innovation

Although all politicians acknowledge the need for research and innovation, the University very often finds hitches or barriers when it comes to carrying them out.

In order to try and address this problem the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) had compiled a report for the Government in 2006 on the 'National Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation 2007-2010 - Building and Sustaining the Research and Innovation Enabling Framework'. The strategy was compiled by MCST CEO Brian Warrington and Jennifer Casingena Harper, MCST science and technology policy director.

Quite a few of the suggestions in the MCST report refer directly to the University. It is worth drawing politicians' attention to some points in the report related to the University and recommend that they carefully consider including the recommendations in their electoral manifestos. The MCST report clearly recommends to the Government that it should urge the University to enter into applied graduate studies that are directly related to business-driven research demands.

The University is actually implementing a proposed applied research scheme which provides annual grants to students undertaking Masters, M.Phil and Ph.D. studies and also provides 'bench fees' to appropriate departments.

Such grants should be awarded to as many as possible of these postgraduate students and not only to just a few. In addition, post-doctorial researchers should be given the same opportunities and departments need to be given similar bench fees as those given for postgraduate studies.

The University should be in a position to promote post-doctorial research without the need to appoint the individuals as lecturers. Another recommendation in the MCST report states that the University should, by 2008, seek to establish an effective technology transfer office to provide advice and assistance to University staff and students interested in setting up spin-offs, and to act as a bridge between financiers, business incubation centres and others relevant to the establishment of such spinoffs.

The University should also look at courses that are avant-garde and could easily attract foreign investment. These include such courses as veterinary medicine and Space-related science subjects such as astrophysics.

The University has somehow shied away from such aspirations. However, now that Malta is an EU member, it is appropriate to have high expectations. Only in this way does Malta have a greater chance to move from the lower ranks to the top ones in terms of research and development in Europe.

University academic staff and students should bring to the electorate's attention that research and innovation are essential to achieve significant growth in our economy. It is not only the amount of stipend paid to students that should be at the top of the priority list as to which party to vote for. More altruistic and intelligent aspects such as that of the party's commitment to promote and finance research and innovation should be a decisive factor as to how one should vote in the coming election.

Politicians have to determine how to spend public money but their priorities very often stop at giving substantial student stipends. Teaching excellence always overrides the need for research, even to the extent of eliminating research funds completely, as has been the case in recent years. Teaching, research and service are the three pillars that sustain universities' existence.

All political parties would like the University to achieve teaching excellence and all accept that the University offers its students a satisfactory teaching programme in most areas, although there may be room for improvement in certain service aspects.

However, the latter problem does not always originate from the University's academic side. The University is always willing to offer its advice and experience in diverse areas, such as the environment and industry, and to provide highly qualified experts for court cases.

All parties agree that we have to use all the brains available to enhance progress in Malta, especially when dealing with projects, and make best use of the finance that has been made available through EU accession.

Perhaps in the service area it is the Government and its institutions that do not sufficiently consult University academics and make the best use of their expertise.

A new government should make it clear that academic staff have a role to play in determining policies as well as in providing their expertise in specific technical areas. This happens in most other countries. This function of academic staff should be clearly expressed in the political parties' electoral manifestoes.