Another Research Café event held

Malta Enterprise, with the support of the Malta Council of Science and Technology (MCST), has held another Research Cafe, focusing on promoting research and development activities in industry. The event was organised as part of the SME Week 2017 programme of activities coordinated by the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business and supported by the Enterprise Europe Network.

The programme followed its tagline of ‘we inform & support – you develop’ and gave a detailed insight and updates on the various national and EU R&D funding initiatives. The CEO and Founder of INNOVA Spa, Aleardo Furlani, who was the keynote speaker, discussed ways of transforming research into commercial innovation. According to Mr Furlani: “For SMEs, it is not the survival of the fittest; those who live by the sword (the technology) are best able to adapt.”

A high-level panel debate on the challenges and needs for research in industry followed the keynote speeches, along with the participation of local SMEs that have successfully benefited from the support and funding offered. An afternoon café setup provided the opportunity for one-to-one meetings and breakout sessions for any information required on funding, tips for success, intellectual property, academic collaboration and access to finance for projects.

During the morning session, Malta Enterprise launched three new schemes:

Aid for research and development projects is a measure that allows companies to claim tax credits on costs incurred directly or indirectly in the carrying out of an R&D project or projects relevant to the company’s trade. Through this scheme, a new approach is being adopted by which companies can claim tax credits on their R&D within two years from its completion. Nevertheless, a proposal can be submitted before any costs are incurred in order to ensure that the project is eligible for funding.

Innovation aid for SMEs will allow eligible SMEs to recover in the form of tax credits, part of the costs incurred for the temporary engagement of highly qualified personnel from large undertakings and research and knowledge-dissemination organisations.

Tax credits for R&D and innovation is open to all undertakings which – for a period of at least 12 months – employ a person holding or reading for a doctorate in science, information technology or engineering.

The innovation performance of Malta’s SMEs has improved steadily in recent years, driven by the launch of numerous policy measures aimed at increasing the level of research and innovation among SMEs. Malta Enterprise is committed to continually developing new initiatives, including those aimed at promoting R&D.

Malta Enterprise chairman William Wait confirmed the organisation’s commitment to continue helping businesses undertake research and development “as this is the way forward to continue driving our economy to new heights.”

In his address, Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCAST) executive chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that the council is working on addressing and bridging gaps in order to incentivise the participation of both the public and the private sectors. Examples include providing guidance and funding to protect intellectual property, helping enterprises become investment-ready and providing internationalisation opportunities for researchers and technologists.