Bid to lure back to Malta researchers working abroad

The government would work to entice back young researchers who left the island in search of better job opportunities and use their skills for the benefit of the Maltese economy, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said.

This initiative forms part of the government’s plan to open the Life Sciences Centre, in San Ġwann, by the beginning of 2014.

The centre, which will be named BioMalta Campus, would seek to attract foreign direct investment into research, technological development and innovation in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors and also support the development of the local industrial community, the minister said during a visit to the construction site.

Life sciences essentially involve the scientific study of living organism like plants, animals and human beings.

Work on the €29 million centre – €16 million of which are funded by the EU – started in September with the demolition of the former Yorkie factory. The project was originally estimated to cost €20 million but the costs went up as it became more ambitious, Malta Enterprise chairman Alan Camilleri said.

Further work on the site in the coming months will consist in the demolition of another disused textile factory, VF, and the Malta Enterprise building. The latter will be demolished once the head office moves to its new premises at the former Institute of Health Care at St Luke’s Complex.

BioMalta Campus is intended to create a knowledge cluster between the University of Malta, Mater Dei Hospital and the life sciences industry. It will cover an area of about 13,500 square metres. Over 10,000 square metres will be dedicated to laboratories, offices and conference rooms and a further 3,500 square metres will be used for incubation facilities.

Tenders for construction work and finishing of the project are expected to be published by December.

Mr Fenech said it was no coincidence that the site was strategically positioned close to Mater Dei and the University that were key players in the industry. The hospital would help understand the medical needs of the country while University graduates would be able to work on those needs through research, he said.

Mr Camilleri said Malta Enterprise was in the process of setting up a BioMalta Foundation that would steer all the strategic and business development activities related to the life sciences industry. The foundation would be made up of experts in the bio-technology industry who will include internationally acclaimed researchers, he said, adding that more would be divulged in the coming days.