November New Programme Projects of National Importance Lm25,000 Specific Programme still under development

Malta Council for Science and Technology National Research and Innovation Programme 2008 Brian Warrington CEO, MCST

November Overview Value of Programme Euro 700k Indicative project funding €50k - €200 (Lm22k – Lm88k) Project duration normally 1 – 3 years

November State Aid Operates under de minimis state aid regime: –Projects in fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture ineligible –Industry to ensure they do not exceed allowable limit of aid (€200k gross over 3-year period). Complements Malta Enterprise scheme to promote R&D in industry Double funding not allowed – checks are conducted

November Programme 2008 highlights Scope: research, development and innovation in science and technology (acquire new knowledge). Sectors: focus on 4 priority sectors Key objective: to promote technology transfer between –Knowledge providers (academic institution) –Knowledge users (Industry or public sector entity) Technology transfer must fulfill a genuine need and therefore certain funding limits apply (explained later)

November Participants Consortium –At least 2 participants, (a) an academic institution and (b) industry or public sector –other partners may be included but must add value Maltese legal entities (academia, public, private, NGOs) eligible for funding Foreign entities eligible but not funded Project Coordinator must be Maltese legal entity

November Eligible Costs Eligible Direct Costs –Technical and management personnel –Purchase of specialised equipment –Travel, networking, dissemination –Subcontracting (limit 25% or project grant) Eligible Indirect Costs –10% of eligible costs, excluding subcontracting, excluding equipment over €5,000

November Funding Levels Academic, research institute, public body, NGO – 100% Private entity – 75% Plus 10% overheads

November Funding restrictions Objective: good balance and distribution of workload Funding for any participant limited to 66% of project grant Combined funding for any category limited to 66% of project grant Funding for public body limited to 25% of project grant Subcontracting limited to 25%

November Process Pre-registration 2-stage submission and evaluation process Shortlisting stage –Lightweight preliminary proposal –Estimates of timeframes, costings Selection stage –Full project proposal –Details of participants –Activities, timeframes, costings

November Funding Project to be structured into stages of months duration Single stage project –Advance of 80% –Project report at end of project –MCST Audit, determine eligible costs –Payment of balance due (or reimbusement)

November Funding Multiple-stage project –advance of 100% of first stage –Project Report at end of each stage, including updated forecast –Calculation of balance due for next stage –Advance of 80% of final stage –Funding for any one stage will not exceed 80% of total –Final Project Report, reconciliation and payment of balance due

November Financial considerations Participants must maintain and financial accounts and separate bank account Actual costs with fiscal receipts Costs determined in accordance with usual accounting and management procedures Expenses must be consistent with principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness Refundable expenses limited to allocation

November Ownership of results Ownership of IP and all rights rests with participants In case of consortium, requirement for signing of IP agreement between consortium members

November Other Significant events – inform MCST Withdrawal of participant – agree with MCST for reallocation or replacement Default – MCST entitled to withdraw funding and claim refund

November Evaluation and Selection

November What is important Good project Good proposal You are strongly encouraged to discuss your proposal with us before submission

November Marking and Thresholds Evaluated on 4 criteria Each criterion allocated maximum of 5 marks No weighting Threshold of 3 for each criterion Overall threshold of 14

November Selection Criteria 1. Programme Objectives 2. Concept and Approach 3. Quality 4. Potential Impact

November Selection Criteria (1) Programme objectives –Degree of fit with priority sectors –Extent of collaboration between academia and industry/public entity –Addresses a genuine need for knowledge transfer

November Selection Criteria (2) Concept and Approach –Conceptually sound –Clearly defined objectives, ambitious but achievable –Clearly defined deliverables –Proposes suitable actions

November Selection Criteria (3) Quality –Participants have necessary knowledge and skills –Balanced participation and funding

November Selection Criteria (4) Potential Impact –Application and uses of research and deliverables –Roadmap for realisation of benefits –Spillover effects

November Application Title Abstract (150 words) Proposal (max 3 pages) Project Plan Outline Project Team Budget overview Organisation Profile

November Proposal Section (max 3 pages) Background State of the art Proposal Objectives & Deliverables Competitiveness Impact (uses, benefits, future effort) IP Issues

November Some advice You are strongly encouraged to discuss your proposal with us before submission Max length of proposal Clarity and conciseness

November Timeframes Launch5 Nov Pre-registration23 Nov 1 st stage submissions14 Dec Evaluation15 Jan08 2 nd stage submissions15 Feb08 Evaluation17 Mar08 Negotiation & SigningApr 08