The University of Malta is the most active beneficiary of grants under the Horizon 2020 Programme, participating in 46 projects and having received around €8.8 million since the beginning of the programme.
This information came to light when the Malta Council for Science & Technology (MCST) published its Annual Report for 2019, which highlighted the strong commitment to research and innovation, both of which are pivotal to make Malta one of the leading knowledge-based economies in the world.
Throughout the year in question, MCST continued serving as Malta’s official contact point in the administration of EU Framework Programmes.
Malta has greatly benefitted from EU innovation funding within the Horizon 2020 programme. By the end of 2019, 133 Grant Agreements have been signed with the participation of 179 Maltese entities. The University of Malta is participating in 46 of these projects.
The amount of funding collectively received by Maltese participants amount to €25.3 million. There are currently 61 unique entities successfully participating in Horizon 2020.
Horizon 2020, the biggest EU R&I programme, will be succeeded by Horizon Europe - an ambitious €100 billion research and innovation programme which will kick off in 2021 and run till 2027.
The report also highlighted the timely response to the increasing demand and forecasted shortages of STEM skills in Europe, through the enaction of the National STEM Engagement Working Group This working group brought together the major national stakeholders in the field of STEM, including the University of Malta. In this respect, a position paper was launched which includes various STEM Engagement measures, including a consolidated Malta Science Communication Strategy.
The 2019 MCST Annual Report is available to interested parties via this .
