MCST launches strategies aimed at health, manufacturing research

A health research strategy, a manufacturing research strategy, and the Research and Innovation Fund for 2012 were among the announcements made at an event hosted by the Malta Council for Science and Technology last week in which it also presented the results of the council’s work last year.

The development of health research will have many positive effects in Malta

MCST chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, together with the MCST vice-chairman and chief executive Nicholas Sammut, Alec Lapira and various other project leaders spoke during this event.

The main subjects discussed included the launch of the Health Research Strategy, the launch of the Manufacturing Research Strategy, the launch of the Research and Innovation Fund in 2012, information on the Labs4MEMS Project, and a presentation of the results of the COST Programme and the Seventh Framework Programme of EU funding.

Dr Pullicino Orlando pointed out that “despite the limitations faced by the Maltese economy, the development of health research will have many positive effects in Malta”.

During the launch of the Health Research Strategy, Dr Lapira, the chairman of the steering group of this strategy, said that the aim was to ensure that research activity and innovation in healthcare is promoted and furthered in Malta. The strategy promotes measures that help to bridge the gap between research and policy implementa­tion. Cabinet approved the strategy last December.

The strategy identifies the most prominent areas and opportunities for health research and innovation, and the investments required to develop a vibrant health research and innovation environment. Long-term sustainability in the health sector is also an important target; the main recommendation of this strategy is the setting up of a National Health Research and Innovation Centre. Research here would focus on enhancing the effectiveness of processes, diagnoses, treatments and the delivery of healthcare services.

The MCST council also developed a national Manufacturing Research Strategy, which identified how research and innovation can be best used for economic growth in high value added manufacturing. This strategy furthermore highlighted the steps to be taken to promote and facilitate research and innovation in the manufactur­ing sector. Cabinet also approved this strategy in 2012.

Each year, the Government finances a number of projects in support of the National Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation. One of the main funding instruments is the Research and Innovation Programme, which has increased by a factor of 4.5 over the past years. This programme is coordinated by the Council through the National Funding Unit, led by Joseph Sammut, the council director of R&I National Funding and Technology Commercialisation.

The main priority areas of this programme are environment and energy resources, ICT, value-added manufacturing, and health and biotech­nology.

The funding for this programme increased from €1.1 million to €1.6 million in 2012. A total of 46 proposals were received, requesting €8.3 million in funding when compared with the €5.8 million in 2011.

Foreign experts performed the screening of applications in line with the evaluation criteria. In all, 37 applications were short-listed for the 2012 call for applications, of which eight projects were selected for funding.

During her presentation on the European Cooperation in Science and Technology programme, Nadine Castillo, the director for Policy, Strategy and FP7 at the council, said this programme brings together researchers from various countries to promote transnational coordination of nationally funded research. In 2012, Malta began to participate in 38 new COST Actions with the new involve­ment of 56 researchers, bringing a total of 80 new Malta participants in COST Actions since 2010.

Researchers from Malta have also contributed to COST publications and to the organisation of training schools and conferences. Malta was also host of three COST events in 2012.

FP7 is the main financial tool through which the European Union supports research and development activities. During her presentation, Anthea Fabri, the FP7 national coordinator, said that by the end of 2013, Malta had a total of 125 FP7 projects since its conception, tapping into approximately €13 million in funds.

The Lab4MEMS project aims to develop novel, innovative manufacturing devices called micro-electro­mechanical systems. The project involves 22 multinational partners receiving a total of €28 million over the next 30 months. Lab4MEMS is coordinated by ST Microelectronics. The total cost for implementing part of the project in Malta is €4.5 million.

At the end of the event, the council planted a tree to mark the quantum leap in quality it achieved during the administration of the recent board and staff.

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