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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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) are relaunching the MCST-TÜBİTAK 2023 Joint Call for R&I Proposals to support cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation in the following thematic areas:

• PRIMA Programme Thematic fields (Water management, Sustainable Farming systems, Agro-food value chain)
• Digital Technologies
• Smart Manufacturing
• Health

Visit the below link for further information, to download the call application forms and guidelines.

ONLINE INFORMATION EVENT

An online information event is going to be jointly organised on the 17th of March 2023 at 10.00 (CET). Interested Malta-based and Turkey-based entities are encouraged to register for this event here to learn more about the Call and about partner searching. The agenda and Zoom link will be directly sent to registrants.

For more information on the Online Event and/or for assistance with the Call Documentation, please contact the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) on prima.mcst@gov.mt / 0035623602152.

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Source of Funding: COST - European Cooperation in Science & Technology

Participants are invited to submit COST Action proposals contributing to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal knowledge advancement and development of Europe. Multi- and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged.

The Open Call Action proposal submission, evaluation, selection and approval (SESA) procedure is fully science and technology-driven and will ensure a simple, transparent and competitive proposal evaluation and selection process, reflecting the bottom-up, open and inclusive principles of COST.

Participants planning to submit a proposal for a COST Action will need to refer to the SESA guidelines and to the Open Call Announcement available on the below link.

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Source of Funding: European Union

Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership is a Horizon Europe co-funded partnership. It constitutes a network of 60 partner institutions from 25 countries and the European Commission that enables an unprecedented effort to pool research and innovation investments and align national programmes at pan-European scale.

MCST together with 35 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 priority areas:

1. Ocean Digital Twins at sub- sea-basin scale
2. Blue generation marine structures
3. Planning and managing sea uses
4. Healthy ‘Blue Food’ under a ‘One Health’ approach
5. Enabling the green transition of ‘Blue Food’ production

Entities residing in Malta are eligible for funding, with the option of requesting up to € 500,000 to participate in a SBEP proposal consortium (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 call specifications.

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Source of Funding: X2.0 Driving Deeptech Growth Project - EU Funded

X2.0 will set up custom and needs based 5 month deeptech programme. The program will tailor its services to the needs of each startup, ensuring growth, scaling up, long term impact and cross border connections. Each selected startup will be screened by Venture Capital and Innovation experts and based on their insights, validated industry experts and their services will be proposed.

What are we looking for?

10 Deeptech startups whose innovations are based on high-tech innovation or o significant scientific advances in manufacturing and circular economy domains.

Why to participate / Benefits

Innovation Vouchers to cover

• Needs-based growth and scaling services in the max. amount of €20,000
• 1-on-1 mentorship with experts from the field of need in the min. amount of €5,000
• Access large-scale startup and investor-oriented events, exhibitions, and fairs in the amount of €5,000

Other Program Benefits

• Corporate Matchmaking and procurement
• Private Fundraising assistance
• Custom EU funding and public procurement ecosystem and overview
• Talent Matchmaking & Job promotion
• Promotion & Visibility

Visit the below link for further information.

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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

PRIMA – Partnership for R&I in the Mediterranean – facilitates collaborative R&I in the areas of Water Management, Farming Systems and Agro-Food Chain.

PRIMA Participating States fund transnational R&I projects addressing the scope and objectives of the PRIMA Section 2 multi-topic call tackling the following topics:

Thematic Area 1: Water Management

• Topic 2.1.1 (RIA) New governance models to define best practices for sustainable water management and conflict mitigation.

Thematic Area 2: Farming Systems

• Topic 2.2.1 (RIA) A step toward carbon-neutral farms: coupling renewable energy sources with circular farming systems.

Thematic Area 3: Agro-food Value Chain

• Topic 2.3.1 (RIA) Assessing novel antimicrobial food packaging and coating materials to reduce food waste to improve safety in the Mediterranean food supply chain.

Entities residing in Malta are eligible for funding under the Section 2 calls, with the option of requesting up to € 500,000 to participate in a PRIMA proposal consortium (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).

Download the guidelines and application forms from the below link.

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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

Malta-based applicants who will coordinate a project addressing a Section 1 or Section 2 topic featured in the PRIMA Annual Work Plan 2023 have the opportunity of engaging a service provider who can support them through the pre- / full proposal writing and/or submission stages.

Submission deadlines are as follows:

• Assistance with PRIMA Section 1 proposals – 1st March 2023 (23:59 CET)
• Assistance with PRIMA Section 2 proposals – 8th March 2023 (23:59 CET)

The documentation associated with this Scheme can be accessed through the following link:

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