A boost for local research

If you were to check out the latest developments in the research for better tools used in advanced keyhole surgery or for a solution that would turn industrial sewage into drinking water approved by the most stringent EU benchmarks, where would you go? The United States? Germany? Japan? There's no need to go so far away. They are happening here in Malta.

The problem is few people know about the research and development (R and D) and innovation projects underway in the local public and private sectors, and many still think our country is destined to remain at the bottom of Europe's R and D league.

"Local investment in R and D is still relatively low compared to other EU countries, but this does not mean there is no research activity in Malta," insists Brian Warrington, chief executive officer of the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST). "Official statistics indicate that investment in R and D in Malta stood at €31 million in 2006, with two-thirds of this taking place in the private sector and the balance in academia and the public sector. This equates to 0.62 per cent of GDP."

The MCST is entrusted with the difficult but not impossible task of promoting local research and innovation in various areas such as information and communication technology, biotechnology, engineering, transportation, energy and the environment. It gets funds directly from government and supports institutions to tap into the various EU funding opportunities.

Small as they sound, these figures are fuelling several significant projects across the different sectors. One project, called Idelap, is researching ways to create better tools for keyhole surgery by developing an ICT-based tool to aid designers in the early stages of design of micro-scale biomedical devices. Launched this year and financed by the MCST, the project partners are the University of Malta, through its Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, the Malta Federation of Industry, the Innovation Relay Centre, Trelleborg, Engineria Ltd and Jamesco Trading Company Ltd, a subsidiary of St James Hospital.

Another project concerns the transformation of industrial sewage into potable water. Its main objective is to develop an innovative water recycling process for application in hotels in Malta and the Mediterranean region. The concept can also be applied to large commercial buildings and isolated communities where the water consumption is relatively high but not enough to justify connection to the regional sewerage network. The project partners are Sustech Consulting, which is conducting the research, the Island Hotels Group and the Department of Public Health. The project, which started in January 2008 and will be concluded in September 2009, is financed mostly by the MCST's 2006 research and innovation (R and I) scheme.

As much as 55 per cent of Malta's potable water supply comes from seawater desalination (reverse osmosis) plants, which is an energy-intensive and expensive process. The balance is made up by groundwater, which is becoming increasingly saline due to over-extraction. The results of this research could have a significant impact on the management of Malta's limited resources.

There are many other research projects under way and it would take several pages just to give a brief overview on each of them. Speaking to the partners in these projects, it emerges that the little funds made available, if used creatively and with care, can support research that produces tangible results. The human resources though good, are limited. Administrative work takes up precious time that could otherwise be dedicated to research. These are challenges, which the small but expanding crop of Maltese researchers are facing with confidence.

The big challenge for MCST is to create and sustain a generation of researchers and innovators not just by encouraging more students to choose science subjects at school or tertiary level but by promoting research activities as a vital component in science and technology disciplines.

For this reason, the council is organising a high profile exhibition in November to showcase research in Malta and promote related careers. It will complement existing events and activities promoting science, Dr Warrington explains.

"There are numerous activities which have popularised science and technology and encouraged more students to choose science subjects in school. These events are very useful in their own right and are primarily targeted at students in the primary and early secondary schooling years.

"This activity is different since it focuses on scientific research rather that science in general, and is aimed at those in the final years of their schooling who may be interested in pursuing a career in scientific research. The two types of event complement each other and address different age groups."

The event is open to participation by all individuals and organisations undertaking research in science and technology. This includes industry, academia, the public sector as well as NGOs. The event is aimed primarily at science students in post-secondary or at tertiary level, to make them more aware of research opportunities and to guide them in their career choices.

However, the exhibition will be open to students at other levels as well as to the general public. For example, raising awareness of research career opportunities is also useful to parents who of course have an interest in their children's future.

During the exhibition, there will also be talks and presentations on opportunities for local grants and fellowships, including EU funding, especially FP7. Case studies from private industry, public sector and the academia will also be made public. Researchers will be invited to share their experience and success stories. A seminar and a workshop with policy makers are also being planned.

It is hoped the exhibition will further boost the current research initiatives to meet the ambitious national targets set for R and D in Malta, namely, an annual expenditure of about €43 million or 0.75 per cent of GDP, by 2010.

"This will come about through increased research investment in the private, public and educational sectors through various means," insists Dr Warrington. "Some of it will be funded by industry, some through increased participation in EU research programmes, and some through the EU Structural Funds programme. The latter will be a major contributor towards achieving this goal and over €30 million have already been allocated to strengthen the research infrastructure at the University of Malta, for Ph.D. fellowships in scientific subjects and for funding research in industry."

MCST will contribute €600,000 towards research projects in manufacturing and will allocate €700,000 as part of its annual fund for the R and I fund supported by government. It will also encourage and support more participation of Maltese entities in the EU's FP7 funds and investment by local industry.

The council is inviting local organisations to book exhibiting space for the upcoming exhibition. For more information call 2360 2134, 2166 0340 or view the website www.mcst.gov.mt.