France is setting up a base in Malta of its national centre for scientific research, aimed at creating a hub in the Mediterranean and acting as a networking platform for scientists from across the region.
The representative office of the CNRS – “Europe’s largest public research organisation and one of the most important centres in the world” – should start operating from the University campus within weeks after the idea was floated some months ago.
The French Ambassador to Malta, Daniel Rondeau said: “It is proof that France wants to put science and knowledge in the heart of the European project, fostering the link within Europe and the Mediterranean.”
The CNRS office would build a network with all scientists of the two Mediterranean shores, he said.
It is run by Arnauld Lalo, who said the office would be representing the CNRS in Mediterranean countries and working to strengthen collaborative research projects and develop bilateral relations between Maltese and European scientists.
Over the last years, it was decided that offices would be opened in the major industrialised countries and other emerging regions.
The office in Malta would, therefore, be on a par with those in Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Brussels and Washington, Dr Lalo said, adding the island’s cultural and geographical position would be taken advantage of.
The idea is to promote science and technology cooperation across the region and have Malta as its outpost, similar to what has already been set up in other countries.
The project is the fruit of a partnership with the University of Malta and the office would also be facilitating the relationship between the two.
Speaking at a meeting at Castille with Mr Rondeau and Dr Lalo, the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue, Chris Said noted the initiative had taken off in just a few months. He promised his support. Although Malta’s budget for research was low, the subject was high on the government’s agenda and funding had increased considerably over the last couple of years, Dr Said pointed out, stressing its importance.