Promoting research and innovation

The Malta Council for Science and Technology is organising the 2008 Research Expo at Villa Bighi, Kalkara, from tomorrow to Friday (For details view www.mcst.org.mt). It is hoped the exhibition will further boost Malta's research initiatives and help reach the ambitious targets set for research and innovation in Malta, an annual expenditure of around €43 million, by 2010.

The MCST's role is to promote research in all areas of science. Its big challenge is to create and sustain a generation of researchers and innovators. This is not simply a matter of having more students opt for science subjects at school but involves promoting research activities as a vital component to the development of our economy.

This activity, open to all individuals and organisations involved in scientific research, focuses on scientific research rather than science in general, and should once again show how proud our country should be of its graduates.

Our students very often distinguish themselves in several areas and this is witnessed during their participation at various symposiums held locally and abroad.

The way our students perform in the world of IT offers the opportunity to benchmark the knowledge of our up-and-coming professionals. Our students are sought by international organisations to participate in leading associations because of their insight and their distinct ability to look at and define the future.

It may be surprising how such a small University can prove to be a driving force and make such a global impact. The architects behind this achievement are the lecturers and professors who are local champions for the use of ICT to improve all aspects of professionalism. This notwithstanding that the support for our education both in terms of the conditions of work offered to academic staff and in the financing of research and innovation is one of the most humble in Europe.

Unfortunately, last Thursday, the University Academic Staff Union Association (Umasa) announced that the government has not agreed to the financial counter- proposals presented by the staff unions.

Given that the unions have now exhausted all avenues of negotiations, there is now an aura of disappointment among those who were hoping their contribution to research and innovation would soon be acknowledged.

Certainly, this does not augur well for the University, which is being treated more as a glorified sixth form than an institution to promote research and innovation, besides educating students to the highest level.

However, it is not only funds that are needed to support research and innovation. One should make sure that no talents are wasted, and that all brains, regardless of age or creed, are attracted to promote research and innovation.

It is worthwhile for our University professors who are approaching retirement age to follow the example of Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland and now president of the Finnish Innovation Fund. Since his retirement from politics in 2003, Aho has devoted his professional life to the promotion of innovation. Aho continues to identify and support technology start-up companies in Finland and throughout the world. In 2004, he led a group of experts on a mission to reinforce the EU's research and innovation capability.

The University Alumni Office is trying to stimulate activity among the University's alumni. The University also needs to recognise professors who have contributed a lifetime towards achieving excellence.

Once these highly experienced university professors have relinquished their time-consuming administrative posts, such as those of heads of department, they should have more time to devote not only to the students but also to society in general. The University should therefore organise tutorials by these well-established professors to showcase innovative technology to private users, buyers, vendors, providers or public regulatory authorities.

It would be a great shame and a lost opportunity if such expertise, credibility and commitment is lost and the opportunity is not grasped to pass on such values required for the leadership roles of tomorrow. They could lead our society through a programme designed to promote the importance of professional standards to all stakeholders.