Space Proof of Concept Competition

Space – Proof of Concept Competition launched – €15,000 to be awarded to the winner and €10,000 for first runner-up.

Ministry for Equality, Research and Innovation is launching a competition entitled Space- Proof of Concept Competition for researchers with an interest in Space Technologies, with the aim of stimulating the design or development of a product that uses space generated data such as positioning, navigation, timing information or Earth observation images.

The competition opens on the 13th July, 2021 and proposals are expected to address mobile applications, asset management and tracking, wearable solutions, robotics, drones, AI-driven space applications and the use of Earth Observation data, among others.

Minister Owen Bonnici said that research and innovation are at the heart of Malta’s progress into the future and space is one more resource our researchers can exploit. “While we may think of space as portrayed for us by the media, in reality space research has been crucial for many solutions we now take for granted.”

The Minister added that in Malta, space research is still in its infancy and we need to do our best to support and motivate our researchers, as well as the younger generation to come forward and explore this resource further.

Applicants need to register their expression of interest to participate by Friday 6th August 2021, by filling in the ‘Expression of Interest Form’ and emailing it in PDF format to maltaspacetaskforce@gov.mt. The email should be titled ‘The MFER Space- Proof of Concept Competition Expression of Interest’.

For further details, one may contact maltaspacetaskforce@gov.mt.

Titnieda l-Kompetizzjoni “Space – Proof of Concept” bi €15,000 li jingħataw lir-rebbieħ u €10,000 għat-tieni post.

Il-Ministeru għall-Ugwaljanza, ir-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni qed iniedi kompetizzjoni bl-isem ta’ Space- Proof of Concept Competition għar-riċerkaturi b’interess fit-Teknoloġiji Spazjali, bil-għan li jistimula d-disinn jew l-iżvilupp ta’ prodott li juża data ġġenerata mill-ispazju bħal informazzjoni dwar pożizzjonament, navigazzjoni u ħin jew immaġini t’osservazzjoni tad-Dinja.

Il-kompetizzjoni tiftaħ mit-13 ta’ Lulju, 2021 u l-proposti huma mistennija jindirizzaw applications għall-mobajl, ġestjoni u traċċar tal-assi, soluzzjonijiet li jintlibsu, ir-robotika, id-droni, applications spazjali mmexxija mill-Intelliġenza Artifiċjali u l-użu tad-data osservata tad-Dinja, fost oħrajn.

Il-Ministru għall-Ugwaljanza, ir-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni Dr Owen Bonnici qal li r-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni huma fil-qalba tal-progress lejn Malta tal-futur u l-ispazju huwa riżorsa oħra li r-riċerkaturi tagħna jistgħu jisfruttaw. “Filwaqt li meta naħsbu fl-ispazju, ħafna drabi nimmaġinaw dak li rajna fil-films tal-fantaxjenza, fil-verita’ r-riċerka spazjali kienet kruċjali għal ħafna soluzzjonijiet li issa nużaw ta’ kuljum.”

Il-Ministru Bonnici żied jgħid li f’Malta, ir-riċerka spazjali għadha fil-bidu tagħha u jeħtieġ li nagħmlu l-almu tagħna biex nappoġġjaw u nimmotivaw lir-riċerkaturi tagħna, kif ukoll lill-ġenerazzjoni żagħżugħa biex jersqu ‘l quddiem u jesploraw aktar din ir-riżorsa.

L-applikanti jridu jirreġistraw l-interess tagħhom li jipparteċipaw sal-Ġimgħa 6 ta’ Awissu, 2021, billi jimlew l- ‘Expression of Interest Form’ u jibgħatuha bil-posta elettronika f’format PDF lil maltaspacetaskforce@gov.mt. L-email għandu jkun intitolat ‘The MFER Space Proof of Concept Competition Expression of Interest’.

Għal aktar dettalji wieħed jista’ jibgħat email fuq maltaspacetaskforce@gov.mt.