Research: Step in the right direction

World re­now­ned economists, businessmen and academics have shown time and again that investment in creativity, innovation and research are crucial for sustainable economic growth. This has been proven in large and small economies alike.

Research and innovation can be the foundation of many economic pillars of a country as it entices investment in ideas for new products and services crucial to retain competitiveness on the international front. Substantial investment is needed, coupled with the triggering of an ecosystem that includes education, industry and intellectual property legislation. In addition, the funding sources must be sustainable as they need to be maintained over several years, hence involving political commitment that survives even government changes.

The importance of research, innovation and creativity has been understood well by the US, the EU and Japan and now is also being adopted by countries like China and India that have advanced by leaps and bounds in research-based science and technology.

To ensure economic sustainability, Malta too has started to intensify its activity in research and innovation. Despite the fact we have limitations, largely due to economies of scale, Malta last year significantly improved its ranking in the 2009 European Innovation Scoreboard leaving the group of catching-up countries where it was placed in 2008 to join the moderate innovators group. Even though Malta’s innovation performance is below the EU27 average, its rate of improvement is above that of the EU27. Malta has even been identified as the growth leader in the EU27 countries displaying the largest improvement within its peer group.

In the past two years, despite the financial crisis, the national research fund managed by the Malta Council for Science and Technology has increased significantly. The fund now stands at €1.1 million, an increase of 57 per cent in just one year. To date, Malta has already supported over 30 research projects and is now starting to reap the results. One example is Marco Cremona’s research in collaboration with the Department of Public Health and Island Hotels Group, which involved developing an innovative wastewater recycling process for hotels.

Another example is Joseph Grima and the research team at the University and Methode Electronics who have produced an innovative auxetic material that expands rather than contracts when stretched. Both these projects were financed through the national funds of the MCST and both projects received international fame.

Malta has again been mentioned recently in the international news and was singled out by the Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, due to the success of the Agriculture and Fisheries Regulation Department in the FP7 Selfdott project in which Maltese researchers and their collaborators managed to reproduce captive bluefin tuna for the first time in history.

The national contact organisation for the EU 7th Framework Programme (FP7) is the MCST. This EU programme was the funding source of Selfdott and provides a source of competitive funding for local researchers in industry, academia and the public sector. This €50 billion EU fund has enormous potential and Malta has already managed to tap €7 million of it.

In addition, in the past months, the MCST increased its operations considerably. It has tripled its workforce to 24 full-time employees and 10 part-timers. The council has strengthened its policy group and now covers both research and innovation policy. It has increased its capacity in FP7 support to help researchers access EU funds. It has also increased capacity of the national funding management team to help direct research projects towards commercialisation.

The council has also been entrusted with the important task of setting up a National Science Interactive Centre with the intention of encouraging children and youths to go for science, technology, research and innovation-based careers. The government has allocated a fund of €1.5 million for this fiscal year to start up this project and the council has just set up a new unit to start the centre design. The beautiful premises of Villa Bighi, which have been in a state of ruin for years, have been identified as the site where the centre will be developed. Villa Bighi is to be restored to its former grandeur and state-of-the-art equipment will be installed to provide an educational and entertainment (edutainment) experience for the entire family.

In addition, in 2010, the Maltese government, through the European Regional Development Funds allocated to Malta Enterprise, has placed €20 million on the local research and innovation table. This will be available to local industrial concerns with the primary aim of boosting research and development, innovation, competitiveness, innovative start-ups, environment and e-business.

There is still so much more that has to be done to get the research and innovation ecosystem in Malta rolling. However, the significant step in the right direction has been taken and Malta has started to move forward significantly in this sector despite the limitations and unfavourable financial situation.

Dr Pullicino Orlando is chairman and Dr Ing. Sammut is vice chairman and CEO of the Malta Council for Science and Technology.