Freedom of Information

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST), acting for and on behalf of the Foundation for Science and Technology, is a public body established by central government in 1988 with the mandate of advising government on science and technology policy. Today its remit has developed and expanded to include the:

1. Responsibility for the National Research and Innovation Strategy 2020 and related Action Plan.

2. Responsibility for Policy recommendations in the area of research, innovation and space as well a representation of the Government of Malta in EU fora such as: ERAC, ESFRI, EIT, SFIC, COST, ERAC, and SGHRM

3. The management and administration of the National R&I Programme FUSION, the Space Research Fund and other nationally-funded programmes, as well as EU ERANETs and other Research Programmes such as PRIMA.

4. The management and administration of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation – Horizon 2020 – including hosting of the National Contact Point Organisation and representation at the Programme Committee Configuration Meetings.

5. The setting up and running of Esplora, the first National Interactive Science Centre, as the hub for science communication

Today the Council is also responsible for supporting entities, be they academic institutions or enterprises, to join foreign consortia to undertake large-scale multi-national research activities. Typically, such projects would have public-private partnerships set up at a European level to address strategic areas where research and innovation are essential to European competitiveness. The Council also enters into Bilateral Agreements with other countries.

General description of the categories of documents the department/directorate/entity holds (including exempt documents)

• Unit Files;
• HR Files;
• Recruitment Files;
• Project Files;
• Procurment Files;
• Operations Files;
• Administrative Files;
• Occupational Risk Assessments;
• Injury Reports;
• DSE reports;
• Water Test Sampling reports;
• EU Project Files
• Research Grant Administration Files
• Research Grant Project monitoring files

Description of all manuals and similar types of documents which contain policies, principles, rules or guidelines in accordance with which decisions or recommendations are made in respect of members of the public (including bodies corporate and employees of the public authority in their personal capacity)

• MCST Terms of Employment Handbook
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Dress Code Policy
• Final Discipline Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Harassment and Bullying Policy
• Non-Discriminatory Policy
• Training Policy
• Travel Policy
• Uniform Policy
• Health & Safety Policy
• Working Hours
• Standard Operating Procedures
• National R&I Strategy 2020
• National Sction Plan 2015-2020
• National Space Policy 2017

Statement of the information that needs to be available to members of the public who wish to obtain access to official documents from the public authority, which statement shall include particulars of the officer or officers to whom requests for such access should be sent

• Name: FOI Officer
• Address: Villa Bighi, Triq il-Marina, Kalkara, KKR 1320
• Contact number: 23602115
• E-mail address: foi.mcst@gov.mt

Members of the public who request information are to apply through the online form on the website www.foi.gov.mt to be addressed to the FOI officer at the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST).

A complaint may therefore be lodged by filling the Internal Complaints Procedure Form and forward it to the FOI officer. The FOI officer will eventually inform the complainant about the outcome of his/her complaint, informing about the possibility to lodge an appeal with the Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) in accordance with Articles 9 (Fees) and 23 of the Freedom of Information Act, Cap. 496.

Emails received during the weekend are replied on the next working day.

MCST’s opening hours:

• 1^st January to 15^th June – 08.00 – 17.15
• 16^th June to 31^st July – 08.00 – 15.30
• 1^st August to 31^st August – 08.00 – 13.00
• 1^st September to 30^st September – 08.00 – 15.30
• 1^st October to 31^st December – 08.00 – 17.15

Payments should be affected by cheque made payable to the Malta Council for Science and Technology sent by post to the Finance Unit, MCST, Villa Bighi, Kalkara.

• MCST, Villa Bighi, Triq il-Marina, Kalkara, KKR 1320
• Website:                                                           http://mcst.gov.mt>
• OPM FOI Website:  https://opm.gov.mt/en/Pages/FOI.aspx