Source of Funding:

The Malta Council for Science and Technology is receiving proposals under the ERC Support Scheme. The Scheme aims to strengthen the opportunities for talented researchers to obtain grants from the European Research Council (ERC) for excellent and ground-breaking research based on researchers’ own ideas within all areas of research. The Scheme is divided into two options:

Option A: Mentoring initiative

The mentoring initiative will support potential ERC applicants by helping to identify international experts to provide coaching and advice.

Option B: Proposal writing trainings

The objective of this activity is to raise the capabilities of potential ERC candidates to prepare successful ERC grant applications through attending ERC proposal writing training (online or physical).

The call will be open until 12.00 CET (noon) of Friday, 20th August 2021.

For more information, kindly see the documents below and/or contact Lili Kankaya by email to lili.vasileva@gov.mt

Download the rules for participation and application forms from the below link:

Information source:

Source of Funding:

The Malta Council for Science and Technology is inviting new applications for funding under the FUSION Commercialisation Voucher Programme.

The call opens on the 9th July 2021 and the deadline is midnight on the 20th August 2021.

The Commercialisation Voucher Programme is another instrument aimed at bridging the existing gap in the R&I framework as well as improving the overall development and commercialization potential of innovative ideas.

This Programme is to act as a demand side measure and entice user driven innovation, with the ultimate aim of increasing research, technological development and innovation activities, which can eventually be implemented in industry.

The Vouchers are primarily intended to assist prospective applicants of the FUSION Technology Development Programme in order to prepare themselves better in terms of project proposal and validation. In some cases it may also assist beneficiaries of previous or current R&I Programmes as well as projects funded through the European Programmes.

Submission, evaluation and selection of application will be in the form of a one-stage process in which a legal representative of the applicant will be asked to submit all the necessary information, to enable a decision on acceptance or rejection.

The Commercialisation Vouchers are subject to a Scientific Evaluation and priority will be given to the Smart Specialisation Areas. State Aid rules apply. Interested parties should submit their application form electronically to voucher.mcst@gov.mt with “CVP 2021 Call  Application” as a subject.

The Application must be dated, signed and initialised (stamped or signed) on each page by the legal representative. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the timely dispatch of the application to the Council.

It should be noted that emails larger than 6MB shall be automatically rejected by the system. File sharing software are limited to WeTransfer or drobox. All received applications shall be acknowledged by email or in writing. Note to applicant:

• The application form follows a pre-determined editable pdf template with fixed font and margin size
• Altering the parameters of the template will automatically lead to disqualification. Text should not exceed the printable area of the text boxes.
• Annex I is to be used to include a clear diagrammatic representation of how the project will go beyond the state-of-the-art. Annex I should be stamped or signed by the applicant and scanned together with the application form.
• Annex 2 is to be used to include a reference list with full citations for each item. Annex 2 should be stamped or signed by the applicant and scanned together with the application form.
• Additional information pertaining to guidelines, rules, procedures and the application form can be found in the documents attached with this call

Download the rules for participation and application forms from the below link:

Information source:

Source of Funding:

•  To assist companies in kick-starting the investment cycle after the pandemic
• To signal the policy direction in terms of new economic niches which the country intends to develop in line with the European Green Deal
• Incisive aid intensity in the form of cash grants up to €50,000
• Additional 20% support in the form of tax credits

•  Investments made in Gozo,
• Investment made by start-up companies,
• Investments which directly create new green jobs

Source of Funding:

DigiCirc is looking for European SMEs/Start-ups that can use digital tools and apply cutting-edge solutions in the circular economy by addressing specific challenges in the domain of Blue Economy.

 How does it work?

With the second open call, DigiCirc will select a minimum of 15 consortia, composed of at least 2 SMEs/Startups, that will develop innovative solutions focused on digital technologies by addressing the Blue Economy challenges presented below. SMEs will be given the opportunity to use the DigiCirc Matchmaking Platform to look for other SMEs in case they need a partner to build a consortium.

The selected consortia will get a direct funding of up to €20.000 and the opportunity to integrate a highly intensive and innovative 12 weeks-long innovation support programme, divided in two phases, where they will be able to develop their business plans and adapt their solutions for the targeted area (Phase 1); and demonstrate their solutions in relevant environment as well as shape their commercial strategy (Phase 2).

At the end of the accelerator programme, the 5 best ranked consortia will be selected to receive further funding of €100.000. They will have up to 6 months to develop their prototype and make tests in an operational environment in view of a commercial launch.

What’s in it for SMEs?

● Up to €60k equity free funding per SME/StartUp
● Access to 4 Digital Tools
● One-on-One Business Coaching support
● Thematic Mentoring support provided by industry experts

 What are the minimum requirements to apply?

● Being a consortium of at least 2 SMEs or Startups (visit the Matchmaking Platform)
● Being based in one of the EU Members States or an H2020 Associated Country
● Addressing one of the Blue Economy challenges (see below)

What is the duration of the programme?

DigiCirc Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (Phase 1 & 2) will run from December 2021 to March 2022.
Demoday will be held in March 2022. The 5 consortia selected at the Demoday will then have up to 6 months, from April to September 2022, to deliver final outputs.

 Applicants must submit their proposals for one of the following challenges:

#1 Challenge: Develop solutions, products and services based on digital technologies to increase sustainability, circularity and competitiveness in the aquaculture and fisheries sectors by facing specific needs and challenges of these sectors.

#2 Challenge: Create solutions, products, services and apps to empower circularity and sustainability for coastal tourism using digitalization and digital technologies by facing specific needs or by making citizens and tourists conscious about their impact in the ecosystem to improve their habits.

#3 Challenge: Develop solutions, products, tools and services to increase efficiency, sustainability and circularity in ports activities applying digitalization and digital technologies.

#4 Challenge: Develop solutions based on digital technologies to optimize Ocean Renewable Energies operations, increasing their circularity and sustainability.

#5 Challenge: Create solutions based on digital technologies to address sustainability challenges in Maritime Transport in matters of fuel consumption and pollution, route simulation, among others.

#6 Challenge: Solutions, products and services based on digital technologies to make shipbuilding and repair more sustainable and circular.

#7 Challenge: Solutions, products and services based on digital technologies and related to the circular economy for climate change mitigation and marine ecosystems protection.

Please click the below link to download application documentation.

Information and image source:

Source of Funding:

Call overview

The ERA-NET Cofund on Blue Bioeconomy - Unlocking the Potential of Aquatic Bioresources (BlueBio) is launching a second additional Call to facilitate research and innovation projects that are expected to deliver impacts on at least one of the following topics: 

Thematic Area

a.   Sustainable exploration of the aquatic environment and biological resources

b.    Sustainable and resilient biomass production and processing

c.    Traceability and regulatory constraints

The transnational consortium must consist of at least three independent eligible legal entities from at least three Blue Bio partner countries. All proposals must involve both research organisations and industry.

Each partner in the consortium must follow Blue Bio regulations outlined in the Call Text as well as any National Rules and Regulations. Maltese entities that wish to participate shall need to consult and abide by the National Rules for Participation – State Aid or Non-State Aid (rules can be found on the below link). 

Pre-proposal Submission

The consortium coordinator must electronically submit the pre-proposal via the BlueBio submission website (www.submission-bluebio.eu) by Monday, September 20th, 2021, 13.00 CET. Detailed instructions for the use of the electronic submission are described on the BlueBio website (www.bluebio.eu). In addition, all Maltese applicants are requested to submit a National Application Form and relevant annexes, found on the following link:

International Brokerage Event

Interested applicants are invited to participate in a specific online brokerage event that is going to be spread over 2 days: 15th June 2021 (view event recording here) and 21st June 2021 (Matchmaking session; 1:1 meetings). This event will allow participants to get information about the Call and will help them form or join project consortia by meeting prospective international partners. In addition, interested entities are also invited to register on the Plumtri matchmaking page.

More information on the event can be found by following this link or by sending an email to international.mcst@gov.mt

Information source:

Source of Funding:

The Malta Council for Science and Technology would like to announce that it is currently receiving project proposals under the FUSION Technology Development Programme.

• The call now closes Midnight of Monday 5th July 2021.
• This call provides financial support for research, development and innovation preferably within the SMART Specialisation Areas identified in Malta’s National Research and Innovation Strategy 2020. The focus is on innovative research, knowledge transfer and establishing collaborations between (1) Public Entities and (2) Industry with the intention of commercialising the technology developed.
• Kindly note, the application form has been altered. For applicants resubmitting their proposals, ensure that the necessary information is provided.
• More information on this opportunity for funding, the eligibility criteria, the rules for participation and the application form, can be found in the link below.

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Source of Funding:

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

Additional information can be found on website: http://mcst.gov.mt/ri-ipas-open-calls/ . Alternatively, interested parties may contact Mr. Mark Farrugia on 23602178 or 23602000.

Deadline: Friday 18th June 2021 at 11.30pm.

Source of Funding:

MarTERA has launched a fourth joint call to fund transnational research and innovation projects in the following areas:

• Priority Area 1: Environmentally friendly maritime technologies
• Priority Area 2: Innovative concepts for ships and offshore structures
• Priority Area 3: Automation, sensors, monitoring and observations
• Priority Area 4: Advanced manufacturing and production
• Priority Area 5: Safety and security

Please visit the Priority Areas Matrix and the Call Announcement for more details on each priority area.

This call is initiated by ministries/funding organisations from 9 countries: Belarus, Belgium, Germany, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa and Turkey. Applicants from these countries are eligible for funding, while applicants from other countries are eligible if they fund their own involvement. Project consortia must involve industry partners. More information can be found in the Call Announcement.

The international application process consists of a two-stage submission process.

The Stage 1 pre-proposal submission deadline: 26th March 2021 (17:00 CET)

Eligible undertakings (State Aid) as well as Public entities and Public Research & Knowledge Dissemination Organisations that do not carry out an economic activity within the meaning of Article 107 TFEU (Non-State Aid) can request up to 300,000 euros and will need to adhere to the National Rules for Participation. These can be accessed through the relevant hyperlink. (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 300,000 euros capping).

Apart from the pre-proposal submission by the project coordinator on the MarTERA submission platform, each national applicant shall be required to submit a National Application Form along with any pertinent annexes to eusubmissions.mcst@gov.mt. Please access the following document and annexes:

National-Application-Form-MarTERA2021.docx National-Application-Form-MarTERA2021.docx	Annex I Annex I	Annex II Annex II	Annex II Guide Annex II Guide
Annex III	Annex IV	Annex V

Interested applicants are invited to participate in an online brokerage event to form or join project consortia by meeting prospective international partners. This will be taking place on the 17th February 2021 and is free of charge. Register your participation here. You may also find other potential project partners on plumtri’s matchmaking MarTERA 2021 page by registering your interest here.

For more information, please contact the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) on international.mcst@gov.mt / 0035623602175

Information source:

Source of Funding:

The Maritime Seed Award (MarSA) is a joint initiative between the Malta Marittima Agency (MMA) and the University of Malta supported by the TAKEOFF Business Incubator, Knowledge Transfer Office and the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI) at the University of Malta.

The sixth call of this programme aims to help move promising ideas from the Maritime Field forward toward commercialization. To date, fifteen projects have received funding through prior programmes. Award funding totalling to €100,000 will help to bring the innovative early-stage idea/technology from lab to life and provides support to researchers and entrepreneurs when they need it most to increase the likelihood of success.

The Maritime Seed Award will fund two types of initiatives: University of Malta academic staff may apply for ‘proof of concept’ funds which will enable a step-change in taking an innovation developed through research at the University closer to being commercialised; whereas entrepreneurs from within or outside the University may apply for ‘seed’ funds which will enable a step-change in taking their independent technology or knowledge-based start-up closer to the first customer or investment.

Potential applicants for the Seed Fund must attend the scheduled online workshop session hosted by TAKEOFF, while Proof of Concept Fund applicants must attend the workshop being organised by the Knowledge Transfer Office. The workshops will provide an overview for creating a competitive proposal. The final application form will only be accepted if applicants or their representatives register and attend their respective workshops. This will only be waived in extenuating circumstances. Should applicants be unable to attend either workshop, alternative meetings must be held directly with the Knowledge Transfer Office for POC or TAKEOFF for SF. Both workshops will be held online and the workshop link will only be sent to those who register beforehand. To register for the event, please click here

Source of Funding:

Objectives: 

The objective of this call for proposals is to support the establishment and implementation of Maritime Spatial Plans in line with the objectives pursued in the framework of the MSP Directive. More specifically, this action intends to support Member States in setting up maritime spatial plans and ensuring that plans are coherent and coordinated across marine regions concerned. The deadline for Member States to adopt their Maritime Spatial Plans is 31 March 2021.

In this context, applicants are required to address the following priorities in their proposals:

1. Support the work of MSP competent authorities and/or inter-ministerial bodies in the establishment and adoption of maritime spatial plans;

2. Where relevant, support the development of cross-border cooperation on MSP with bordering Member States and third countries with a view to ensure that maritime spatial plans are coherent and coordinated across marine regions concerned; 

3. Making use of the best available data and organise the sharing of information, necessary for maritime spatial plans, by using relevant mechanism and tools (e.g. INSPIRE, EMODNet).

Scope:

Activities that can be funded:

Applicants should explain in their proposal how they will implement the targeted activities below described, resulting in concrete and measurable results within the project's duration.

Projects must undertake one or more of the following main activities as part of the project implementation:

• Specific activities aimed at implementing provisions set out in articles 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the MSP Directive (notably the setting-up and adoption of maritime spatial plans);
• Specific activities aimed at implementing provisions set out in article 10 of the MSP Directive (Data use and sharing);
• Specific activities aimed at implementing provisions set out in article 11 of the MSP Directive (Cooperation among Member States);
• Specific activities aimed at implementing provisions set out in article 12 of the MSP Directive (Cooperation with third countries).

In addition, applicants should include in their project the following complementary activities/tasks to support the above core activities:

• Establishment of a Steering Committee (SC) to ensure the overall strategic steering of the project. The SC should comprise relevant representatives of the Member States where the action takes place (such as MSP competent authorities), as well as the beneficiaries involved. The Commission and EASME may participate in an observer capacity only.
• Establishment of an Advisory Committee (AC) to provide expert advice on the project's activities. The AC should be composed of a maximum of five recognised experts in MSP or in relevant fields of activity. The Commission and EASME may participate in an observer capacity only.
• Working procedures defining how the project and the SC will operate (assigning clear roles and responsibilities, describing the decision-making process, frequency of meetings etc.).
• An opening and closing conference.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to assign dedicated staff to the development and implementation of the proposed communication and dissemination activities. This should be appropriately reflected in the proposed budget.

The list of complementary activities is non-exhaustive. Applicants may propose additional activities, as long as the proposed complementary activity is justified and establishes a coherent link with the project objectives and the objectives of this call.

Read further on the below link: