Dear Deans,
The University of Malta is pleased to announce the launch of this new and ambitious research initiative for the setting up of University Research Clusters. This scheme has been planned and discussed at length for the past number of years, at Rectorate level and within Senate and Council. It is also one of the commitments included in the University鈥檚 Strategic Plan 2020-2025 under the Research and Knowledge Transfer theme.
Research Clusters are multidisciplinary units operating within the University of Malta (UM), set up to conduct research on topics of national, regional, and global interest. The main objective is to encourage research collaborations generated through active networks that link together the different entities of our university. Therefore, a Research Cluster must necessarily be multidisciplinary in nature.
This call for proposals is based upon the procedures that were discussed and approved by Senate and Council. Cluster funding shall cover, among others, the engagement of PhD students and postdocs, as well as equipment and resources required for the cluster鈥檚 activities. In turn, a Research Cluster commits itself to the creation of tangible deliverables, such as the number of projects to be conducted in a set timeframe, the number of PhD graduates, the number of publications, the quantity of IP generated and protected, and an active webpage under the UM website framework detailing the Cluster鈥檚 vision, structure, achievements and activities.
The call is open to Faculties to champion one Research Cluster each where, to ensure multidisciplinarity, a Cluster would ideally include any relevant institute, centre or school besides departments from the championing and collaborating Faculties. Cluster founding proposals will be evaluated by the Research Clusters Committee (RCC) set up for this purpose. In cases where a Faculty cannot decide on championing only one Cluster, a maximum of two Cluster proposals shall be considered, on condition that both are submitted simultaneously to the RCC. The RCC will then decide which of the two is to be considered further.
Research Clusters will receive funding from the University against the presentation and approval of the Founding Proposal, that shall include a five year financial plan, and a statute regulating the governance of the Cluster.
All FICS are strongly encouraged to participate and collaborate in this scheme aimed at facilitating the formation of robust research networks supporting the research infrastructure of our University and providing opportunities to stimulate well-funded, sustainable and high-impact research activities.
Full details on the application procedures and timelines can be found online.
Prof. Alfred Vella
Rector
