A balancing act also with technology

Budget 2011 did not offer a lot in terms of ideas and initiatives related specifically to technology. Indeed, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech made few references to this sector, in stark contrast to the previous Budget speech that had a marked emphasis on research and innovation.

However, the specific initiatives mentioned, some of them already under way, have significant objectives. These include the new ICT buildings at the University of Malta.

“Next year, we shall increase the allocation for University by €3.5 million, aiming to sustain last year’s expansion of the University. Work on the building of the ICT Faculty is ongoing, with an investment of several millions,” Mr Fenech said.

The investment in the construction, completion and equipping of the ICT Faculty buildings amounts to €13.1million. The construction and equipping of the University Computing Services Centre Building will cost €4.2 million.

Another major education-related ICT project mentioned specifically by the minister is the new national e-learning system for primary and secondary schools which will be commissioned next year.

“We are already very advanced in the electronic equipment of schools. Children in kindergartens also have computers, and we have initiated a pilot project whereby primary school children are using netbooks for their studies,” the minister added.

At the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), the Increasing ICT Student Capacity Programme has been allotted €1,333,000 while €867,000 will be spent on a multimedia training centre.

In his speech Mr Fenech devoted a few paragraphs to the new National Centre for Interactive Science, with an investment of €1.5 million.

“The success of our country will also depend on how far we manage to achieve the highest level of talent in research and innovation. Therefore it is crucial for us to nurture education and scientific training from a young age. To reach this strategic objective, the government will invest in the development of a National Centre for Interactive Science in Villa Bighi, Kalkara,” he explained,

The centre, an area of over 4,500 square metres, will serve as a means to introduce an active interest in research and innovation at every age, while encouraging students to embark on a career in science and technology.

ICT in the health sector was also mentioned, albeit briefly, when the minister announced the upgrade of information technology in the provision of health services, with electronic clinical services for doctors and better access to medical histories.

The minister also referred to the reform in the information technology system of the Government Property Division.

“This reform, which will cost the government €2 million, will lead to a radical improvement in the management of government property, a greater efficiency, accountability, and a better service for the public. The first stage was a detailed analysis of the systems and all the processes in order for more than 160,000 files to be administered and is expected to be completed towards the end of this year. In the second stage, information technology systems will be designed to achieve greater efficiency.”

The minister also referred to the installation of smart electricity meters.

“Until now, about 32,000 smart meters have been installed. The rate of installation is increasing and our target is that all smart meters are installed by the end of 2012. With this project, our families should be able to control their consumption better and to limit the theft of electricity which is ultimately paid for by honest families and businesses,” he promised.

Individual fund allocations across the different ministries also give a hint at where the current priorities lie.

In the vote for the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication, there is €200,000 voted for electronic IDs.

The budget for the Malta Information Technology Agency was slashed from €4.3m in 2010 to €2.5m next year. The Malta Communications Authority will also see its budget decreasing from €777,000 in 2010 to €400,000.

In the vote for the Ministry for Education, €30,000 has been allotted to a “Be Smart online campaign” to promote safe online behaviour. Information technology in government schools will be voted €600,000, a few thousand less than this year.

In the speech there was not one single mention of SmartCity Malta, even though the first office building was inaugurated in Ricasoli a few weeks ago.

Comparing the Budget 2011 speech with that of the last two years, delivered by the same minister, one can check whether initiatives have been delivered or not.

Last year Minister Fenech announced that the Malta Council for Science and Technology, Malta Enterprise and the University of Malta would be tasked to draft a national strategy for the development of digital games against an allocation of €250,000. Though work has started on this strategy, it has not yet been delivered.

Different government laboratories were to be integrated into a national Biotechnology Park in San Gwann with an investment of €20 million. The process to set this up started in earnest this year.

In the Budget 2009 speech Minister Fenech had revealed that the government was going to announce plans for the provision of high-speed “fibre-to-the-home” internet access based on fibre-optic cables. Two years later there’s still no tangible sign of this.