Malta Freeport Terminals funds University research

Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd is to fund the University’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust for five years from January 1. The funds will be administered by the RIDT’s board of trustees.

Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd and the University of Malta are to collaborate on advanced research and have nominated a technical working group to specify the aims of the studies required by the Freeport.

The agreement was signed by Malta Freeport Terminals chief executive Uwe Malezki and by University Rector Juanito Camilleri. Trustees board members Anthony J. Tabone and Winston V. Zahra represented the RIDT.

Mr Malezki said Malta Freeport Terminals has a corporate social responsibility programme whose main objective is to support Maltese society in various spheres.

“The University cannot depend solely on government contributions and needs the support of the whole society,” Prof. Camilleri added. “This agreement is an example of how a modern university collaborates with the private industry to support the socio-economic development of a country.”

The Research Innovation and Development Trust was established by the Government of Malta as an integral component of Malta’s established policy to bolster investment in research and development on a national level. One of its main aims is to attract funds from private and corporate bodies to be used to maximise and exploit the research environment at the University of Malta.