With an investment of more than €1,250,000 in 11 research and innovation projects in the fields of energy and water, solutions are being found to the challenges our country is facing. The Energy and Water Agency, through its research and innovation scheme, awarded an average of €110,000 per project in the first and second call.
This was announced at a press conference by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, together with Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti. During this press conference, the third call for such projects was launched. Unlike previous calls, this year applicants are required to be in a partnership consisting of a combination of academic, public or private sector entities, thus creating synergy between different parties.
Applicants can benefit up to €200,000 for each project focusing on increasing sustainability such as projects on photovoltaic panels and battery storage, and water efficient agricultural systems.
A grant agreement was also presented to the researchers of the six awarded projects through the second call. These projects will be tackling different challenges within water and energy areas, including better mapping of offshore groundwater resources or improving the efficiency of renewable energy systems.
Research and innovation are tools that can address situations that our country is facing such as systems for greater energy efficiency, improved water quality or renewable energy systems, to make Malta more sustainable.
Minister Miriam Dalli highlighted that, “Through this investment, we are assisting researchers to develop their ideas towards changes in sustainability. Through the second call other projects have benefited and made this scheme a success, therefore I look forward in seeing more collaboration to enhance efficiency and support research and innovation.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation, Keith Azzopardi Tanti explained how the fields of energy and water are given importance through research and innovation. “I encourage both private and public sectors to participate in this scheme, to develop projects to enhance the efficient use of energy and water. The third call of this scheme proves the government’s determination in continuing investing in research and innovation,” remarked the Parliamentary Secretary.
The third call will be investing half a million in research and innovation projects. Applications for this call will open in early June, after a dedicated information session for interested parties.