Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China would like to announce that the SINO-MALTA Fund 2023 Joint Call for Project Proposals is now open for Malta-based applicants. The SINO-MALTA Fund supports research, development, and innovation projects between Maltese and Chinese researchers.

For the SINO-MALTA 2023 Joint Call, the eligible Thematic Areas are:

1. Health, with a focus on:

• Cancer,
• Cellular therapy,
• Drug development,
• Traditional Chinese Medicine,
• Digital tools to support healthcare.

2. Green and Blue Economy Transitions, with a focus on:

• Renewable energy,
• Sustainable mobility,
• Smart manufacturing,
• Marine and Maritime technologies.

3. Digital technologies,

• Digital technologies may remain general as a theme,
• Digital technologies as a cross-cutting theme may be equally supported.

Proposal Deadline: 27th June, 23:59 CET

The submission process for the 2023 Call will follow a one-stage process that allows for Malta-based applicants to find China-based partners to collaborate and submit a full proposal that describes the state of the art, methodology, implementation, and foreseen outcomes.

Click on the below link to download application forms and guidelines.

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Source of Funding: SuperCharger Ventures

­SuperCharger Ventres' accelerator programme in Malta is catered to a diverse range of founders seeking to:

• Expand their team by 3 to 10 people and consider remote work options from Malta, which can be finacned with up to 75% of their salaries through soft loans.
• Access EU market through local POC and international reference clients and a European presence of 500 million consumers.
• Invest heavily in tech and research, specifically AI and realted fields. Malta offers a wealth of highly skilled students and employees and a fast track for visa applicants for specific industries.
• Raise more than a million euros in funding and access additional non-dilutive funding to supplement their pool of funds.

Read further on this programme on the below link or download their brochure from here.

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Source of Funding: EIT Urban Mobility

At EIT Urban Mobility, our mission is to accelerate change towards a sustainable mobility model for liveable urban spaces. In the current context of climate emergency, our objective is to support our community of innovators to develop solutions that help mitigate and adapt to climate change and, at the same time, are able to improve the quality of life of our cities, create jobs and strengthen the European mobility sector.

To this end, the primary emphasis of our Innovation Programme for 2023-25 is to radically advance commercially viable solutions/services/products that support this mission and those goals.

Since 2020, we have a growing portfolio of projects to support agile and collaborative mobility projects across Europe. We work with innovators in city administrations, research organisations and businesses, to strengthen the urban mobility ecosystem.

The focus of our 2024 Call is on three Challenge Areas: Sustainable City Logistics, Energy and Mobility, and Future Mobility. Whilst addressing these challenges, we seek proposals that tackle the most pressing issues facing public, private or hybrid mass transit providers. Nonetheless, we remain open to excellent proposals from other providers within the urban mobility arena.

In this Call, we align with the aims and objectives of the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. The EU Mission challenges cities to accelerate their digital, energy and mobility transformations through urban mobility experimentation supporting the race to Net Zero. Moreover, we support active alignment with the European Technology Platform – ALICE in relation to the Sustainable City Logistics challenge area.

Continue reading on the below link.

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Source of Funding: SynergistEIC (EU-funded Project)

SynergistEIC is an EU-funded project that started in January 2023 with an overall budget of €1,986M to help European deep tech startups, scaleups and SMEs from the GreenTech sector to scale in the EU and globally. Throughout its 2-year duration SynergistEIC will hold 2 Open Calls selecting and supporting 30 companies, providing them with a combination of financial support, advisory services, and connections with the broader innovation ecosystem.

Up to € 50,000 per startup will be distributed in Open Call 1. The first Open Call will provide grants to 15 startups (5 EIC-applicants and 10 non-EIC applicant companies) along with a 6-months tailored support which includes a 3-month acceleration programme to increase scalability, as well as series of workshops on EU funding and procurement topics, and networking opportunities with EU innovation ecosystem players.

Who can apply?

SynergistEIC welcomes applications from deeptech startups developing innovative solutions addressing ClimateTech, CleanTech, Circular economy and AgriFood challenges with a preference on certain technological focus (notably using AI, Machine learning and language processing, Big Data, Advanced Computing, Bioengineering, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, IoT).

Application deadline: 14th of June 2023, 17:00 CET!
Companies can apply on the F6S platform SynergistEIC Open Call 1.

What do companies get? 

15 GreenTech companies will be selected in the first SynergistEIC Open Call to receive up to €50k grant to refine their technology, engage with users, and improve commercial metrics. Also, they will be enrolled in a 6-month tailored support programme addressing the startup’s needs and challenges.

What are the other programme benefits that the companies get:

• Connections to peer-companies, investors, national and European innovation ecosystem actors.
• Boost scalability and business performance.
• Increase of market coverage or market readiness of developed products. .
• Raise companies’ awareness of EU funding and procurement opportunities.
• Wide promotion & visibility.

How does it work?

The Open Call process is composed of different phases:

• Phase 1: Application submission 
• Phase 2: Admissibility & eligibility check
• Phase 3: Proposals evaluation

• Phase 4: Tailored Growth programme begins with selected companies.

The evaluation will be performed by external evaluators (external experts with expertise and experience corresponding to the open call topic). Detailed information on the evaluation process could be also found in the Guide for applicants available on the SynergistEIC webpage. 

Selection criteria: 

• Companies that have applied or are interested in applying for EIC Accelerator
• Seal of Excellence (SoE) holders (for EIC-applicants) or 
• Minimum TRL4 level companies that have received funding up to 500k Euro (for non-EIC applicants)
• Female Entrepreneurs and / or with women in high management positions (C-level)
• Companies coming from the EU member states or Associated Countries with preference given to companies from Widening Countries. 

Additional information: 

Detailed information would be provided to candidate applicants on a dedicated SynergistEIC Open Call Info Webinar which will take place on 17 May 2023, 15:00 - 16:00 CET. Register here.

Answers to the most common questions related to the SynergistEIC Open Call 1 are provided in the FAQ section of our website, as well. 

Applicants are also welcome to ask their questions also by contacting us via email at info@synergisteic.eu 

Official press release and flyer:

SynergistEIC_Press release.pdf

SynergistEIC_Press release.pdf

Flyer SynergistEIC.pdf

Flyer SynergistEIC.pdf

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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Malta Council for Science and Technology would like to announce that it is now receiving applications for the Space Research Fund 2023.  Application deadline is 29th of May 11.59pm

The Space Research Fund continues to provide financial support for research, development and innovation in the downstream Satellite Earth Observation (EO) sector, specifically projects that deal with the processing and exploitation of data collected through EO satellites. The call is open to all Maltese legal entities under three funding modalities (De Minmis ; GBER ; State Aid n/a).

An applicant or each partner within a consortium is to opt for one funding modality, making use of the respective rules and application template accessed below. A proposal can apply for a grant of up to €150,000 in order to carry out their research projects during a period of 20 months across two stages.

Funded projects under this Call must start between August and September of 2023.

Information Sessions about the Call:

MCST together with ESA will deliver an information session about the Call. The session will be held at MCST:

26th April, between 9:00 and 11:00 hrs.

The information session materials can be found in the tabs below. You may request a copy of the recording by sending an email to space.mcst@gov.mt.

You may also book a one-to-one session with an ESA representative to discuss your proposal. You will be able to meet them in person on the 26th April after the info session from 1.30pm onwards, and on the 27th of April. Please book an appointment in advance by sending an email to space.mcst@gov.mt  

Source of Funding: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Developing and implementing harmonised methodologies for risk assessment, across the EU and internationally, is one of the EFSA Science Strategy 2027[1] operational objectives. With the help of training schemes for staff and experts, EFSA is aiming at implementing this objective through the development of new capabilities to foster this framework within the EFSA risk assessment community.

It is within the mandate and mission of the Knowledge, Innovation and Partnership Management (KNOW) Unit to envision EFSA's long-term competency needs while promoting capacity building. In order to fulfil its mandate, the KNOW Unit coordinates cross-cutting scientific knowledge activities in EFSA in close collaboration with other EFSA Units, the specialised courses resulting from this call being one of these activities.

Objectives:

The specific objectives of the framework contract resulting from the present procurement procedure are:

• To assist EFSA’s experts on dietary exposure assessment to develop and execute a multi-annual training programme in collaboration with EFSA’s experts on dietary exposure assessment
• To assist EFSA’s experts on dietary exposure assessment in the preparation of the training content as well as the training materials needed to deliver the training courses
• To facilitate the organisation and coordination of the training courses on dietary exposure assessment (e.g., management of training participants, deliver training reports).

Visit the below link to read further on this call.

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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The European Partnership in Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS)’s FIRST joint transnational call for proposals entitled “Healthcare of the Future” is NOW OPEN! This partnership gives the opportunity to coordinate and optimize research and innovation efforts in Europe and its partner countries supporting the much-needed transformation of health and care systems.

MCST together with 36 other Research Funding Organisations from 23 countries launched the 1st Joint Transnational Co-funded Call and will be financially supporting R&I projects addressing challenges on the following research areas:

1. Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR): this encompasses a wide range of research activities, including policy analysis, systems thinking, and implementation science, health economics, sociology, political science, anthropology, epidemiology, and management.
2. Health Technology Research (HTR): this includes a wide range of research areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, telemedicine, mobile health, electronic health records and others.
3. Social, Economic and Behavioural Research: this encompasses a wide range of research activities, including sociology, economics, political, behavioural research, anthropology, epidemiology, and management, with the goal of informing decision-making and improving health outcomes.

Entities based in Malta are eligible to request up to € 500,000 in funding so that together with their consortium they can submit a proposal to this first THCS transnational call (N.B. if more than one National partner is present in one consortium, the total amount of funding for the participating National partners cannot exceed the € 500,000 capping).

Visit the below link to download the guidelines and application forms.

Deadline for Intent to Apply letter submission – 23rd May 2023 (14:00 CET)

Full proposal submission deadline – 13th June 2023 (14:00 CET)

Click here to view the recorded session of the launch event held on 24th March 2023, and download the presentation from here.

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Source of Funding: MIMCOL

The Seed Investment Scheme (SIS) has been introduced in order to help start-ups raise equity finance.

The Seed Investment Scheme offers incentives in the form of tax credits to individual investors resident in or operating in Malta, who invest in a qualifying Maltese start-up or early stage companies. The scheme offers young entrepreneurs a route to vital funding in the initial stages of their project by effectively minimizing the risk to investors.

Some important points to consider are:

• SIS investors can receive a maximum of €250,000 tax credit in a single tax year,
• A company can raise no more than €750,000 in total via SIS investment.
• Investors can receive up to 35% tax relief in the tax year the investment is made.
• The company seeking investment must be incorporated and based in Malta.
• The company must not have more than 10 employees.
• The company must be no more than three years old.
• The company must have assets of less than €250,000.

Most commercial activities are acceptable for SIS funding, however there are some exclusions:

• Dealing in immovable property, shares, securities and/or other financial instruments; Dealing in goods other than in the normal course of business;
• Carrying on banking, insurance or any other activity covered by the Investment Services Act, the Banking Act, and the Financial Institutions Act;
• Providing legal, accounting or other professional services;
• Activities relating to development of immovable property;
• Receiving royalties or license fees;
• Operating or managing hotels, hostels, guest houses or residential care homes;
• Carrying on activities in connection with the generation of electricity and other energy sources;
• The holding of shares, whether directly or indirectly, in any company which carries out any of the activities listed in any one or more of paragraphs above.

Visit the below link to read further.

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Source of Funding: Horizon Europe

The Hop On Facility allows for legal entities from low R&I performing countries to join already selected collaborative R&I actions, subject to the agreement of the respective consortium and provided that legal entities from such countries are not yet participating in it. The scheme aims to improve the inclusiveness of Horizon Europe by involving more research institutions from Widening countries under Horizon Europe Pillar 2 and EIC Pathfinder actions.

Main selection criteria are excellence and added value of the new partner performing a relevant additional task in the project. All consortium partners need to agree on the accession of the new partner whereas the R&I relevance and complementarity needs to be demonstrated. The accepted application will trigger a GA amendment with the service in charge of the related topic.

Read further on the below link.

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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) is receiving proposals under the Internationalisation Partnership Awards Scheme Plus (IPAS+). The Scheme is divided into two options. Applicants are to fill in the appropriate sections of the form; they may select either Option A or Option B, or both:

Option A: opportunities for collaborative initiatives between Maltese entities and at least one foreign entity of proven track record of excellence. Proposals should describe the nature of the joint activities that would be funded through the Award. Applicants are to demonstrate how the proposed activities contribute towards and align with achieving the goals of the National R&I Strategy, and to describe the potential of any activities to become self-sustaining or generate longer-term outcomes.

Option B: opportunities for Maltese entities intending to submit a Horizon Europe proposal as the coordinator of the consortium to engage a service provider (local or foreign) who will be supporting the applicant through proposal writing and submission.

The amount of the Award available to any one successful applicant is capped at €6000 per Option. Some exceptions regarding the financial capping for Option B can be found in the rules for participation. All projects are evaluated by a selection panel set up by MCST on the basis of evaluation criteria outlined in the Call text.

Visit the below link to read further and download the required application forms.

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