While Malta has a reputation as a jurisdiction for smaller financial series companies and start-ups, the fund sector is maturing and attracting sophisticated asset management activities. In this respect, funding in the Maltese islands has increased drastically over the past years, providing researchers with ample oportunities to boost their research ideas and widen their field of expertise.
EU membership positioned Malta on a level playing field with other European Union countries and opened up many business opportunities between Malta and the EU. Now, establishing a business in Malta provides instant access to the EU’s internal market of over 500 million people in a number of EU economies. Malta also enjoys excellent relations outside of the EU, specifically with other Mediterranean nations in North Africa and the Middle East, making it an attractive base for European, American or Asian companies wishing to enter the relatively untapped markets to the south.
Malta has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for the registration and marketing of all types of funds and investment vehicles. Malta’s financial services framework and tax laws are up to date with EU directives and in line with EU requirements, while the regulator the Malta Financial Services Authority’s (MFSA) performs its regulatory function in a constructive manner. Operators based in Malta cite the licensing process with the MFSA as being quick, efficient and thorough.
Visit Malta Enterprise for further information.
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R&I Programmes at Xjenza Malta
The R&I Unit is committed to creating a thriving R&I ecosystem that drives societal progress, whilst positioning Malta as a leader in scientific and technological advancements. For this purpose, the R&I Unit manages the national research funding portfolio. The R&I Unit within Science Malta manages three national funding streams by way of direct implementation support to the National R&I Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027:
- FUSION is the flagship national funding programme, designed to drive and support local R&I efforts. It provides the necessary support for researchers and technologists to transform their innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. FUSION encompasses various schemes offering the necessary mentoring and financial support across all levels of RDI, from basic to applied research and commercialisation. This ensures that the Maltese research community has the tools needed to develop ideas that benefit society;
- The Thematic Programmes are targeted, top-down initiatives that address a particular market need or failure for the year in question. These thematic programmes aim to improve Malta’s R&I landscape by creating a cohesive system for researchers and entrepreneurs to develop their innovative ideas within a comprehensive, well-adapted environment suited to their sector;
- The Research Networking Scheme provides opportunities for collaborative initiatives with international partners and supports researchers in publishing their research results in peer-reviewed open access journals.
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COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. Following the Multiannual Financial Framework Midterm Review (MTR) decision, the indicative funding amount for Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2027 is EUR 93.5 billion.
It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.
It creates jobs, fully engages the EU’s talent pool, boosts economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and optimises investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area.
Legal entities from the EU and associated countries can participate.