Programme and presentations of event
09.00 – 09.30 Registration
09.30 – 10.10 Opening Session
Moderator Dr Jennifer Cassingena Harper, (MCST), Malta Member of the JRC Board of Governors
Welcome by Dr Joanna Drake, Head of EC Representation in Malta
Hon George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs
10.10 – 10.40 Coffee break
In parallel Press Conference (Westin Hotel Quadro Restaurant)
10.40 – 11.50 Presentations of invited Maltese speakers
- Introduction to the National R&I System, Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and MCST (ideas of cooperation): Dr Nicholas Sammut
- Strategies for Research in Academia, Professor Richard Muscat, Pro-Rector, University of Malta
- Recent Developments in Vocational Education, Professor Maurice Grech, Principal and CEO, MCAST
11.50 – 13.00 3 interventions from JRC Directors with focus on interest of Malta
13.00 – 13.15 Conclusions and introduction to the poster session:
Dr Brian Warrington, MCST
13.15 – 14.30 Walking lunch through posters and discussion with Maltese project leaders
14.30 – 17.00 Parallel technical visits
- Institute for Sustainable Energy
University of Malta·
- Malta Centre for Fisheries Sciences
Press Release
The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST), the University of Malta and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) have concluded an agreement to host Maltese doctoral and post doctoral students in the different JRC Research Institutes. Areas of collaboration have been identified on the basis of mutual interest and include areas such as environment, biotechnology, ICT, energy, food safety and maritime affairs.
"It will be a pleasure for the JRC to count on a higher number of Maltese students in its laboratories. I am sure they will actively contribute to the excellence of the EU research and will take full advantage from the wealth of knowledge and infrastructure which is available at our seven specialised institutes" affirmed RS.
“The JRC offers very good opportunities to students particularly because it is a reference centre of science and technology for the European Union and is very close to the EU policy-making process of Europe wide research"
The JRC offers very good opportunities to students particularly because it is a reference centre of science and technology for the European Union and is very close to the EU policy-making process of Europe wide research" added Dr. Ing. Nicholas Sammut, chairman of the MCST.
The Memorandum of Understanding has been signed in the framework of the Open Day held today in St Julians with the participation of high profile speakers from the JRC and Malta and the objective of finding further ways forward for research cooperation. This will build on the longstanding cooperation already built between JRC and MCST, the national advisory body on science and technology, as the latter is the Maltese member of the JRC Board of Governors. Collaboration with the University of Malta will also be enhanced.
European and Maltese counterparts have already identified several areas of research that are relevant for the JRC work programme and the scope of the research areas of the MCST and the Malta University. They include the following; however the list can be extended:
- Environment (in particular water and soil)
- Climate change
- Biotechnology (including GMO analysis)
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and security
- Clean energy technologies, energy efficiency and renewable energy
- Food safety and quality
- Maritime affairs and fisheries.
In the framework of this reinforced cooperation, it is also established that access to large infrastructures and user laboratories will be granted to Maltese researchers. Candidates to grants funded by Malta's national programmes will be nominated by MCST or the University of Malta, and pre-selected candidates will be approved by the JRC. Maltese candidates to the EU grants will need to follow the common JRC grants procedures or apply for a Marie Curie fellowship.
Press photo of signing of agreement
The Joint Research Centre
The JRC has seven scientific institutes, located at five different sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with a wide range of laboratories and unique research facilities.
Its mission is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.
Useful links
Joint Research Centre (JRC): www.jrc.ec.europa.eu
Grantholders at the JRC: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm?id=4790&lang=en
Marie Curie fellowships: http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/mariecurie-actions/action/fellow_en.html
Malta Council for Science and Technology: http://www.mcst.gov.mt/
University of Malta: http://www.um.edu.mt/