manufacturing research strategy 30 th january 2013 ing. jp. sammut malta council for science and...

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

ing

Lead

ing

Flexib

le

Flexib

le

Colla

borat

ive

Colla

borat

ive

Innovati

ve

Innovati

ve

Creati

ve

Creati

ve

Know

ledge

able

Know

ledge

able

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