New Programme

1. New Programme • Projects of National Importance • Lm25,000 • Specific • Programme still under development November 2007

2. National Research and Innovation Programme 2008 Brian Warrington CEO, MCST

3. Overview • Value of Programme Euro 700k • Indicative project funding €50k - €200 (Lm22k – Lm88k) • Project duration normally 1 – 3 years November 2007

4. 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 2007

5. 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 2007

6. 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 2007

7. 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 2007

8. Funding Levels • Academic, research institute, public body, NGO – 100% • Private entity – 75% • Plus 10% overheads November 2007

9. 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 2007

10. 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 2007

11. Funding • Project to be structured into stages of 12-18 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 2007

12. 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 2007

13. 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 2007

14. 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 2007

15. 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 2007

16. Evaluation and Selection November 2007

17. What is important • Good project • Good proposal You are strongly encouraged to discuss your proposal with us before submission November 2007

18. 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 2007

19. Selection Criteria 1. Programme Objectives 2. Concept and Approach 3. Quality 4. Potential Impact November 2007

20. 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 2007

21. Selection Criteria (2) Concept and Approach • Conceptually sound • Clearly defined objectives, ambitious but achievable • Clearly defined deliverables • Proposes suitable actions November 2007

22. Selection Criteria (3) Quality • Participants have necessary knowledge and skills • Balanced participation and funding November 2007

23. Selection Criteria (4) Potential Impact • Application and uses of research and deliverables • Roadmap for realisation of benefits • Spillover effects November 2007

24. Application • Title • Abstract (150 words) • Proposal (max 3 pages) • Project Plan Outline • Project Team • Budget overview • Organisation Profile November 2007

25. Proposal Section(max 3 pages) • Background • State of the art • Proposal • Objectives & Deliverables • Competitiveness • Impact (uses, benefits, future effort) • IP • Issues November 2007

26. Some advice • You are strongly encouraged to discuss your proposal with us before submission • Max length of proposal • Clarity and conciseness November 2007

27. Timeframes November 2007