Malta has a “minuscule” research budget compared to the rest of the EU and it needs to be boosted if industry is to flourish, according to scientist Alex Felice.
Prof. Felice, a biochemist at the University of Malta, said the average State budget set aside to finance scientific research was just a fraction one per cent of the national GDP, a far cry from the average three per cent spent across the rest of the EU.
“We need to have a debate on how much we are investing before trying to spread it across different initiatives. Otherwise, we are not going to improve the situation,” he said.
Prof. Felice was speaking during a press conference announcing this year’s Science in the City Festival, describing the event as “a prime example of the island’s research capabilities”.
The festival, which culminates on September 26, will feature an interactive labyrinth, neurologically-monitored audiences and other state-of-the-art installations. Organisers are hoping to surpass last year’s 15,000 visitors to Valletta’s Republic Street.
Prof. Felice said a number of EU studies had already revealed that the island’s research performance was relatively low but little had been done to increase the budget.
In 2012, for instance, the University of Malta’s entire research budget amounted to about €600,000, a considerable amount lower than that invested in other universities.
Last year, John Betts, dean of the university’s Faculty of Engineering, had also raised concerns over the amount of money set aside for research.
He had suggested removing stipends to finance more research and buy the necessary equipment to maintain scientific departments.
Malta spends more than €23 million on giving postsecondary students an €80 monthly stipend. By 2020, however, the figure is likely to exceed €30 million as the student population rises in line with EU targets.
Prof. Felice called for a review of the research budgets, which he hoped would attract more students to undertake scientific investigations.
“We need to invest to reap the benefits. Those countries that do invest benefit from a stronger economy, increased economic activity and good quality jobs,” he said.
Attractions
The Science in the City Festival will come to a head on September 26, but this is far from a one-day event.
Project coordinator Alex Felice said yesterday there would be a series of lectures throughout the week, including a science debate organised by Times of Malta.
The debate will focus on food safety and will be informed by a host of investigations carried out by this newspaper, including the effects of firework pollution on agriculture, the consequences of slurry in farming and the safety of local fish farming methods.
Scientists will also go head to head with politicians in an event entitled ‘Science in the House’.
Other activities include a theatrical piece presented by The Royal Shakespeare Company veteran Tim Hardy in The Trial of Galileo, presented by Icarus Theatre Collective.
It is fresh off a successful tour of the US, a sold-out run at the Brighton Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The science festival coincides with a number of others held across the rest of the EU. For more details on the event visit the festival website at www.scienceinthecity.org.