Not one giant, but two – Owen Bonnici

It does not take you much time taking care of the portfolio of Research and Innovation to realise that University is indeed a giant, by our standards, in this field.

Over time it has taken research and innovation very seriously and the fact that the Rector of University Prof Alfred Vella, is himself a very respected scientist and wellversed in research and innovation speaks volumes.

I have this theory: that the biggest proof that a person has grown into an expert in something is the ability to compound arguments and write the longest and most thoroughly researched of essays on the smallest detail which the untrained eye would very readily ignore. I am of course no scientist or expert in research and innovation but the time I have been immersed in this subject has given me a fantastic opportunity to realise how much University has become a giant, by Maltese standards, in this field.

University is not only the biggest employer of researchers in our island, it also has a Knowledge Transfer Unit which gives extraordinary support to researchers in applying for the various national and international funding streams. And this effort is reaping amazing dividents to the University. By comparison the industry, in so far as research and innovation is concerned, is a David compared to the symbolic Goliath at tal-Qroqq even though there are elements in the industry which have excellent infrastructure for R&I. It comes as no surprise therefore that each time research funds are awarded, the University takes practically all the spoils.

This, of course, is not a bad thing at all – it is indeed fantastic news. It is a good thing that our University is, by local standards, a giant in research and innovation. What is an eye opener is the fact that we have to create a robust ecosystem of innovation which would allow for the absorption of funds for research also in the private sector while retaining the success being registered at University level.

We have a Goliath at tal-Qroqq and we want to support all the amazing effort being put so that this local giant, if needs be, becomes a Goliath even on a regional basis. But the David in the industry must also grow into a Goliath and to do that we have to cultivate an environment which gives the space for two eventual Goliaths to co-exist, work together and ignite our economy onto a fantastic future of creativity, enterprise, discovery and innovation.

Increasing the budget for R&I is of course much needed but is certainly not enough. I am sure that if funding for R&I had to be doubled overnight, it still would not be absorbed in its totality.

Let me explain by giving an example. The best driver would not be able to drive even the most elementary of cars in a land without streets – similarly, R&I cannot foster and expand if the infrastructure is not there. The private sector too must have a Knowledge Transfer Unit. Researchers should be employed not only at University but also with the Government to research on matters which, from time to time, the Government believes are important for our country. Funding – not only from local or EU sources but also from banks and financial institutions – should be made available to commercialise research and not only create jobs but also lead to better quality of life, find cure to maladies, save our seas and oceans and combat climate change.

A culture-change must also be triggered and brought about. The political class, the national broadcaster, civil society, the social partners … these are all key elements which have to realise that the sooner we take R&I seriously, the better we stand a chance to be the absolute best in the world in terms of competitiveness, innovation and a greener, sustainable and smarter economy.

This week I had the pleasure to be introduced to a perfect research project. I am using the adjective perfect because it has all the ingredients of a model research project: it has the involvement of both the private sector and the world of academia, it has secured funding from a research funding institution and has the potential of commercialisation in the local and international market.

The project is called LASEER and it seeks to improve the end product of 3D Lasers in order to accelerate the time needed for those innovations to become fully fledged mini-factories. Mr Lino Busuttil, who owns a local company and is the promoter of the idea, partnered with the University of Malta to undergo this project. Through funding from MCST to the tune of EUR 200,000 (FUSION Program) the results are quite positive and head way has been registered. Mr Busuttil is also registering a patent and has the ambition to distribute and commercialise the innovation both locally and abroad.

I wish, of course, all merited success to the team behind LASEER.

But back to University.

One major difference between University-based research and private-based research is while the former is published and the recipe is distributed world, the latter is destined to the confines of absolute privacy within the realms of intellectual property regulations. At the same time, however, University-based research tends to be more of the fundamental kind, while privatebased research tends to build on fundamental research done elsewhere and calibrates the resulting innovation into a profitable venture.

It is very clear therefore that there are all the ingredients of a perfect marriage or union between University and the private industry. But first the two must become equals in terms of research prowess and to do that enough oxygen must be created in the country to be able to harbor not one, but two giants living together in harmony.

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I thank Quinton Scerri for inviting the Hon Claudio Grech and myself to participate in his popular TV show Populin to discuss R&I. I have always been a strong believer in Mr Scerri’s presenting skills and I am happy to see him grow in the field of broadcasting. Populin is proving itself to be a very interesting forum where ideas are debated in a smart but yet entertaining way.

Quinton asked the most pertinent questions and I did my best to explain in the most simple terms possible why there is the need to foster a robust ecosystem of innovation. I will do my best to break the glass ceiling on the subject, sooner rather than later.