Description of Organisation
The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) was established in 1998 to provide strategic advice to Government on national science and technology policy and has been responsible for identifying and addressing major science and technology challenges and issues of strategic importance for Malta, thereby contributing to the development of coherent and sustainable policy visions and initiatives.
In 2005, it was relocated within the Office of the Prime Minister taking up a leading role in co-ordinating scientific research and technological policy measures and initiatives through the development of cross-ministerial joined-up policy approaches. It supports a number of departments across ministries as well as other agencies and maintains close links with academia.
In 2006, the Government of Malta, through the MCST, launched the National Strategic Plan for Research & Innovation 2007-2013 that provides a coherent policy framework and related measures and actions that will enable Malta to achieve its national vision of placing research and innovation “at the heart of the Maltese economy to support value-added growth and wealth”.
MCST has pioneered visionary approaches to the deployment of science and technology in the Maltese Islands, in particular in the Marine Science, Biotechnology and Information and Communications Technologies sector, where national foresight pilot projects were launched between 2001-2003. The MCST’s main remit is to encourage increased public and private investments in science and research with a view to promoting a culture for science, technology and innovation.
MCST is also the National Contact Point Organisation (NCPO) responsible for promoting and coordinating Malta's effective participation in FP6, and has appointed the National Contact Points for the major FP6 Priority Areas. MCST and the FP6 National Contact Point Organisation are placing primary emphasis on encouraging and facilitating the participation of SMEs and local industry in the Sixth Framework Programme.
Marine RTD Funding Programme
MCST managed and implemented the first National RTDI Programme for Malta between 2004-2005. This provided financial support for scientific research over the whole research and innovation chain, from basic and applied research to near-market innovations.
It is currently managing the National Research & Innovation Funding Programme launched in 2006 and that is one of the main instruments for implementing the National Strategic Plan for Research & Innovation 2007-2013. With a budget of 0.47Meuro, this Programme provides funds for scientific research and development with a focus on applied research, demonstration and near-to-market innovations in four priority sectors identified: Energy and Environment; ICT; Health and Biotech; and Value Added Manufacturing.
The Programme allows for funding research in Marine thematic areas with a focus on water, desalination, waste rehabilitation technologies, marine management and marine biotechnology.
The Government is committed to increase investments in the setting up of an enabling R&I framework to 0.75% of GDP by 2010.
