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The National R&I Programme 2010 is a funding programme for research and innovation projects in the fields of science and technology and will be managed and administered by the MCST.

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In 2006, the Malta Council for Science and Technology launched the National Strategy for Research and Innovation for 2007-2010, entitled ‘Building and Sustaining the Research and Innovation (R&I) Enabling Framework’

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EurOCEAN 2007

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 http://www.eurocean2007.com/ 

Dr Jennifer Cassingena Harper, Director of Policy at the Malta Council for Science and Technology, was invited to deliver a presentation at EurOCEAN 2007.

2007 has marked an important year in the development of a European marine research strategy. The launch by DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of the Green Paper "Towards a Future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European Vision for the Oceans and Seas” has led to a year-long consultation, attracting over 500 written contributions received by the European Commission. Key issues raised by the Green Paper have been discussed at over 200 events held Europe-wide. Two key events held in 2007 were the Seminar on Marine Sciences and Technologies in FP7 (Brussels, 16 January 2007) and the German EU Presidency Conference: Towards a Future Maritime Policy for the Union (2-4May 2007) which lead to the formulation and discussion of a number of important recommendations.

In June, Aberdeen was the venue for the EurOCEAN Science Policy Conference where leading experts from the European marine science and technology community met to debate the recommendations for a future European maritime policy. EurOcean 2007 issued an important Declaration entitled "A New Deal for Marine and Maritime Science", calling for a coordinated approach to marine science across Europe as fundamental to secure support for the implementation of Green Paper recommendations.  

EurOCEAN delegates underlined the importance of a European Marine Research Strategy for providing the supporting science and technology for a comprehensive EU maritime policy, allowing Europe to increase its share of the estimated €4,360 billion global maritime market economy through the development of innovative marine and environmental technologies, including marine biotechnology, renewable ocean energy systems, novel maritime and transportation approaches, innovative ocean observation systems and associated technologies, marine leisure and tourism and the sustainable use of biological resources.

In her presentation, Dr Harper underlined the fact that new Member States, especially those with maritime tradition, offer a strong potential to contribute to Green paper objectives for exploiting emerging economic opportunities and EU lead markets.

http://www.eu.nl/maritimeaffairs/gallery_pages/011.html 

Dr Joe Borg and Janez Potočnik, European Commissioners responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, and Science and Research respectively, welcomed the Aberdeen Declaration, as marking a significant step forward for the joe borgdevelopment of a strong and vibrant European marine scientific community. The Commission recognised in its strategic objectives that excellence in marine science and technology are crucial to the development of an EU maritime policy.