15th October 2020
In line with the “National Strategy for Research and Innovation 2020”, the Malta Council for Science and Technology is launching a new funding programme called the “Research Excellence Programme“.
The programme aims to spur the growth of new knowledge acquired through experimental evidence following scientific hypothesis. The Research Excellence Programme has been specifically created to meet the need of Maltese public and private entities to concentrate on ‘initial conceptual research’. The programme is intended to fund projects which are still in the early stages of research, but which nonetheless boast a high degree of excellence as well as national and international relevance.
The programme’s main objective is to create a broader Maltese research and innovation system, while developing skills in new multidisciplinary fields in the research sector. The Research Excellence Programme will fund initial research in products or services that could have a significant impact on industry, and ultimately lead to new avenues for economic growth.
This programme is expected to generate knowledge and build on local capacities for future areas, as well as contribute to smart specialization strategies and strategy development. Finally, a programme of this kind will also serve to strengthen existing collaborations.
Applicants are eligible for a maximum grant of € 50,000, which must be used within one year. This grant will be used to fund: the employment of researchers, the purchase or hire of specialized instruments used for particular research, consumables, service providers, travel, scientific information, other relevant research expenditure and indirect costs at a rate of 10% of eligible costs. Public entities will be funded at a rate of 100% of eligible costs while private entities will be funded at a rate of 90% of eligible costs.
The Executive Chairman of the Science and Technology Council, Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, stated that: “These early-stage research grants will provide a strong foundation for further project development. Through the support provided by the FUSION Programme, we have assisted in the unlocking of the huge potential of Maltese Innovators. This new programme will further provide them with opportunities to reach new heights in their endeavours. ”
The Hon. Clayton Bartolo, Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services and Digital Economy added that: “To date, we have committed around €10 million in funding, but this is only the beginning of our long journey. As a government, we are determined to strengthen our commitment to research and innovation and intend to continue to encourage and support this area through public policy. We are aiming to transform Malta into a leading global knowledge society and one of the most innovative countries in the Mediterranean.”
For more information on this funding opportunity, eligibility criteria, rules for participation and application form, you can email rep.mcst@gov.mt or visit the link: https://mcst.gov.mt/mcst-news/research-excellence-programme-2020-call/
The call for applications is open until 18 November 2020.
Stqarrija lill-istampa maħruġa mill-Kunsill Malti għax-Xjenza u t-Teknoloġija
15 ta’ Ottubru 2020
Research Excellence Programme
B’konformità mal–“Istrateġija Nazzjonali għar-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni 2020”, il-Kunsill Malti għax-Xjenza u t-Teknologija qiegħed iniehdi Programm ġdid ta’ fondi msejjaħ “Research Excellence Programme”.
L-għan ewlieni ta’ dan il-programm huwa li jixpruna t-tkabbir ta’ għarfien ġdid li jinkiseb permezz ta’ evidenza sperimentali wara li tkun saret ipoteżi xjentifika. Dan il-programm inħoloq speċifikament sabiex entitajiet pubbliċi u privati Maltin jissodisfaw il-bżonn li jikkonċentraw fuq riċerka kunċettwali inizjali. Il-programm, li huwa maħsub biex jiffinanzja proġetti li għadhom fl-istadju bikri tar-riċerka, se joffri livell innovattiv eċċellenti u huwa mistenni li se jkollu rilevanza nazzjonali u internazzjonali.
Il-programm għandu diversi għanijiet, fosthom li joħloq sistema ta’ riċerka u innovazjoni Maltija aktar kompluta, filwaqt li jiżviluppa l-ħiliet f’oqsma multi-dixxiplinarji ġodda fis-settur tar-riċerka. Ir-Research Excellence Programme se jiffinanzja r-riċerka inizjali sabiex din eventwalment tissarraf fi prodotti jew servizzi li mhux biss ikollhom impatt sinifikanti fuq l-industrija, imma li jwasslu wkoll għal tkabbir ekonomiku.
Dan il-programm mistenni jiġġenera l-għarfien u jibni fuq l-kapaċitajiet lokali għall- oqsma futuri, kif ukoll jikkontribwixxi għal strateġiji ta’ speċjalizzazzjoni intelliġenti u żvilupp ta’ strateġija. Fl-aħħar iżda mhux l-inqas, programm ta’ dan it-tip se jservi wkoll biex isaħħaħ il-kollaborazzjonijiet eżistenti.
L-applikanti huma eliġibbli għal għotja massima ta’ € 50,000, liema somma trid tintuża fi żmien sena. Din l-għotja għandha tintuża biex tiffinanzja: l-impjieg ta’ riċeraturi, xiri jew kiri ta’ strumenti speċjalizzati li jintużaw għar-riċerka partikolari, oġġetti konsumabbli, fornituri tas-servizz, vjaġġar, informazzjoni xjentifika, infiq ieħor ta’ riċerka rilevanti u spejjeż indiretti b’rata ta’ 10 % tal-ispejjeż eliġibbli.
L-entitajiet pubbliċi se jkunu ffinanzjati b’rata ta’ 100 % tal-ispejjeż eliġibbli filwaqt li l-entitajiet privati se jiġu ffinanzjati b’rata ta’ 90 % tal-ispejjeż eliġibbli.
Iċ-Ċermen Eżekuttiv tal-Kunsill Malti għax-Xjenza u t-Teknoloġija, Dott Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, stqarr li: “Dawn l-għotjiet għar-riċerka fi stadju bikri ser jippermettu t-tqegħid ta’ pedament b’saħħtu li jwassal għal żvilupp ta’ proġetti akbar. Permezz tas-sapport ipprovdut mill-Programm FUSION aħna diġà qegħdin nappoġġjaw lill-innovaturi Maltin sabiex jaslu għall-potenzjal sħiħ tagħhom. Issa, bis-saħħ ta’ dan il-programm ġdid, nistgħu nipprovduhom bl-opportunità li jilħqu miri ogħla fl-isforzi siewja tagħhom.
L-Onorevoli Clayton Bartolo, is-Segretarju Parlamentari għas-Servizzi Finanzjarji u l-Ekonomija Diġitali, żied jgħid li: “Sal-lum, aħna kkommettejna madwar €10 miljun f’finanzjament, iżda dan huwa biss il-bidu tal-vjaġġ twil tagħna. Bħala gvern, aħna determinati li nsaħħu l-impenn tagħna f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mar-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni u bi ħsiebna nkomplu nħeġġu u nappoġġjaw dan il-qasam permezz tal-politika pubblika. Qed nimmiraw li nbiddlu lil Malta f’soċjetà globali ewlenija tal-għarfien u f’wieħed mill-aktar pajjiżi innovattivi fil-Mediterran.”
Għal aktar informazzjoni dwar din l-opportunità għall-finanzjament, il-kriterji tal-eliġibbiltà, ir-regoli għall-parteċipazzjoni u l-formola tal-applikazzjoni, ibgħat email lill-indirizz rep.mcst@gov.mt jew żur il-ħolqa: https://mcst.gov.mt/mcst-news/research-excellence-programme-2020-call/
Is-sejħa għall-applikazzjonijiet hija miftuħa sat-18 ta’ Novembru 2020.
This article was last updated on: October 16, 2020