Evolve Ltd, a subsidiary of Attard and Co, donated three pieces of equipment costing €70,500 to facilitate research studies and strengthen the academic programmes at the Department of Chemistry of the University through the Research Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT). The donation is made up of a gas chromatograph, a particle sizer and a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR).
Company director Christopher Busuttil said: “Our donation is in line with Evolve Ltd’s values of showing leadership in social responsibility and also helping people in their pursuit of excellence.”
While thanking Evolve for its significant donation, University rector Juanito Camilleri said Malta had attracted several leading pharmaceutical companies and the exports generated by this industry were estimated at €200 million annually.
“While the University has provided the pharmaceutical industry with the majority of the 1,100 highly skilled employees working in this sector, we are constantly seeking ways to sustain and improve further the competitive edge and the positive experience these Malta-based companies have by developing highly qualified graduates.”
Chemistry Department head Emmanuel Sinagra commended Evolve. “With this donation, the department is in a better position, not just to train better industrial chemists but also to provide better services to industry, particularly the pharmaceutical industry which has flourished in Malta over recent years.”
Evolve’s instruments will enable the department to increase its research activity, while providing better research facilities for postgraduate students doing their M.Sc in Chemistry.
The gas chromatograph will be used in the Organic Photochemistry laboratory, while the FTIR will be mainly used in the synthetic organic laboratories of the department. The master sizer is mainly used for studies in the optimisation of nanoparticle production processes. Such research is essential also for the fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries.
The RIDT was established by the University to bolster investment in research and development on a national level.
As the University expands its sphere of research projects, it is increasingly becoming more reliant on patronage and sponsorships from private and corporate bodies.
www.ridt.org.mt