Welcome funding boost for science

Doubling the money allocated for research, development and innovation has left an incredulous Malta Council for Science and Technology chairman "completely over the moon" and rearing to embark on health, ICT and energy projects.

Nicholas Sammut, who is also a researcher at Cern, home to the world's largest scientific experiment, is ecstatic about what he is sensing to be a shift in Maltese culture which, he says, considers research and development to be a cost rather than an investment.

"We are realising that if we do not invest in new products, services and ideas, we will lose our competitive edge, especially internationally. Science and technology cannot afford to play second fiddle," Dr Sammut stressed.

In the 2010 Budget, the government increased the national vote for an area that has been relatively absent from the agenda to €700,000 from the "worrying" €350,000 Dr Sammut found in his kitty when he was appointed to the post in January.

But in all, the "deserved boost" to research amounts to €1.7 million, including €500,000 for the University trust fund for research and €250,000 for each of two proposals by Malta Enterprise, the University and Mcast - a human genome databank and a strategy for digital gaming production.

And all this came in a decisive year that had been economically and financially challenging, Dr Sammut pointed out, adding that "the government has shown the leadership and courage to back research and development, and the maturity to prioritise it".

It was also a show of faith in local researchers from industry and academia, recognising the research community's efforts. Whereas before, movements were only felt in industry, now even the bridge between the two was being funded, Dr Sammut said, explaining that research required a "whole ecosystem" to take an idea to commercialisation.

Malta Enterprise, the University and Mcast, despite each falling under a separate ministry, were managing to consolidate their efforts, which he considered to be a step in the right direction.

That would entail focusing on four main areas: health and biotechnology; ICT; high value-added manufacturing; and energy and the environment.

Identified as having the most local potential, the ideas that fell into these categories - about 20 - would be discussed and prioritised. Until now, they lacked the necessary funding, Dr Sammut said.

The council also plans to team up with foreign experts to increase the local capacity and try and attract even more funds with the money available.

"I want to make sure every single euro is spent in the right way and that we support the best ideas that can be commercialised and create economic benefit," Dr Sammut said.