Bringing Malta closer to EU projects A strong drive to facilitate the entry of Maltese companies and institutions into EU projects has been very fruitful in achieving this challenging objective. Climate Change and Environment © Thinkstock Malta is a small country with much potential and home to numerous local organisations that embarked on robust EU partnerships through the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The EU-funded project BOOST MT helped small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutions and public organisations integrate into the European Research Area (ERA). Previously under the FP5, Malta had only been involved in 44 projects mostly through its public organisations, pointing to a need to involve the private sector more effectively. With the support of the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST), the project therefore established a platform of national stakeholders linked to research and innovation. This gave rise to a new research and innovation strategy for the country. BOOST MT also raised awareness on opportunities in this respect through newsletters that targeted Maltese researchers, hosting a dynamic conference on the upcoming FP7 as well. In addition, the project organised brokerage events that attracted foreign researchers in conjunction with International Business Machines (IBM) and organised infodays on different Framework Programme areas. With the help of MCST, BOOST MT published a guide on participating in FP7 and organised workshops on submitting and managing EU projects. These initiatives also included twinning visits for National Contact Points (NCPs) and information technology (IT) management tools on the project website to support the NCPs. By the end of FP6 there were around 100 stakeholders out of approximately 500 applications that participated in EU-funded projects. This points no doubt to the valuable contribution that BOOST MT accomplished to this end.
