Manufacturing Research Strategy

30th January 2013

Ing. JP. SammutMalta Council for Science and Technology

Mission Statement

Excel

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Excel

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Lead

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Lead

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Flexib

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Flexib

le

Colla

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ive

Colla

borat

ive

Innovati

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Innovati

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Creati

ve

Creati

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Know

ledge

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Know

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Manufacturing Industry Today

Eroding Competitiveness

Declining Profits

Reduction in overall turnover

Lower levels of employment

High Level of Exports mainly through FDIs

Progressive movement towards High Value Added Activitie

s

Low labour cost reliance replaced

by high tech industries growth

Focus of Industry Sectors

• Electronics

• Pharmaceuticals

• Food, Beverage & Tobacco

• Medical, Precision & Optical Equipment

• Rubber & Plastics

• Renewable Energy

Key Pillar Objectives

• Highly Qualified Workforce specialised in targeted S&T Fields for the Manufacturing Industry

– Undergraduate, Post Graduate and Doctoral S&T Students

• Appropriate Research Infrastructures to encourage growth or R&D activities in the Manufacturing Industry

– Development of Science Parks to host internationally accredited labs, academia, test factories and R&D centres

– Increase Number of Patent Registrations and Patent Revenue

Key Pillar Objectives cont• Finance & Support

– Public and Business R&D&I Spending in Manufacturing

– EU funds to partly finance development of Research Infrastructures

– Availability of Venture Capital and Business Angel Financing

• Linkages and Partnerships

– Appropriate PPP for development of Science Parks

– Appropriate industry academia collaboration on R&D initiatives in Manufacturing

– Innovation collaboration between SMEs and FDIs in the Manufacturing Industry in Malta

– Number of public/private co-publications in the manufacturing sector

Linking Technology Platforms to Industry Sectors

ElectronicsPharmaceu

-ticalsMedical

EquipmentRenewable

EnergyRubber & Plastics

Food & Beverage

Preference, Acceptance and Needs Project

√

Advanced Engineering Materials

√ √ √ √

Photovoltaics & Photonics

√

Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals

√ √ √ √ √ √

Nano-Medicine √ √

Strategy at a National Level

• Improve Culture towards Manufacturing Research

• Education and Development of Human Resources Skill Base

• Development of Partnerships and Linkages

• Exploitation of Research Infrastructures

• Embarking on Project Based Initiatives

Strategy a Sectoral Level• Product and Process Innovation

– Technical Market Studies

– Sectoral Competitive Calls

• Test Bed Initiatives– Innovation Villages (e.g. Green Villages)

– Thematic Pharma Clinical Island

– International Food & Beverage Showcase

– Test Factory Mark

• R&D Government Structures– Development of Technology Platforms

– Reinforcement of Funding Unit

– Strengthening of Patent Framework

Long Term Strategy

Position to exploit Emerging Technologies.

Example: In Europe there is a focus on Nano

Technology in Manufacturing and Medicine.

Malta cannot be left out from the process and has to invest accordingly.

Way Forward - OverviewHaving outlined the key outcomes, programmes and initiatives to be undertaken as part of the Manufacturing Research Strategy, it is now imperative to set a roadmap for ensuring its appropriate implementation in the coming years. A proposed way forward is outlined below:

Way Forward – Establish Technology Platforms

Once consensus from the corresponding Ministries is achieved on budgetary appropriations and responsibilities, Technology Platforms will need to be set up as follows:

Overarching Platform

Transversal Platforms

Vertical Platforms

Way Forward – Manufacturing Research Technology Platform

Way Forward – Thematic Platforms

Proposed Technology Platforms

16

• For Further Information Contact:

• Ing JP Sammut• Director, National Funding

Unit• Malta Council for Science and

Technology• Villa Bighi, Bighi• Kalkara, KKR1320•• Email:

joseph.p.sammut@gov.mt • • Tel: (356) 2360 2123• Fax: (356) 2166 0341 • Web: www.mcst.gov.mt