Innovation policy news: Malta joins Eurostars Programme

Malta officially became a member of the “Eurostars” programme, a pan-European initiative spread across 33 countries aimed at stimulating companies leading to an international collaborative research project. With a fund of €400 million, contributed by the participating states and the European Union, the Eurostars initiative brings together companies from different countries to work on market-driven research projects.

Malta has become a member of the Eurostars programme, a pan-European initiative spread across 33 countries aimed at stimulating companies, in particular SMEs, to lead international collaborative research projects by easing access to support and funding.

With a fund of €400 million, of which €300 million is contributed by the participating states and €100 million by the European Union, the initiative brings together companies from different countries to work on a research project that is market-driven.

Eurostars projects must be aimed at the development of a new product, process or service that should be ready for launch onto the market within two years of their completion. The lead-company in the collaboration, which must comprise at least two companies from two different Eurostars member states, must be a research-performing SME which invests 10% or more of its full-time equivalent or annual turnover in research activities. The Government is committing half a million euro to assist Maltese companies’ participation in the programme.

The Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment Tonio Fenech remarked that this programme can be of “benefit to local our small business owners as it would encourage knowledge and technology transfer and lead to internationalisation. To this effect, €500,000 have been allocated for this programme and we encourage SMEs to participate actively”.

Forming part of the EUREKA network, which Malta had already joined in 2006, the Eurostars programme is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to SMEs. The next deadline for the submission of applications is 24 March, 2011. Further information regarding Eurostars may be found at http://www.eurostars-eureka.eu or one may contact Malta Enterprise by e-mail (info@maltaenterprise.com) or telephone (+356 2542 0000).

References / further information:

• Malta enterprise: http://www.maltaenterprise.com
• Eurostars Programme: http://www.eurostars-eureka.eu/