RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE FIRST TWO CYCLES OF EUROPEAN BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY STUDIES

1. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE FIRST TWO CYCLES OF EUROPEAN BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY STUDIES Dr. George Attard Institute of Agriculture, University of Malta, Malta

2. Bologna Process The process has been completed for all courses with the exception of Medicine and Dentistry. Perception that Medical is a professional, graduates must possess skills and competences. Two cycle system is generally not perceived as being an appropriate one to implement at present.

3. Bologna Process • Most of the undergraduate follow harmonized regulations. • Conscious of its public role, the University strives to create courses which are relevant and timely in response to the needs of the country. • Some 300 students have graduated from IoA and are contributing to the development of the local agricultural sector.

4. University • The university channels government funding towards capital expenditure and staff costs; with a % exploited by the various for research. • The research agendas by the departments and submitted for approval to the university’s research funding committee. • The reform of the university placing more emphasis on performance-based research.

5. University: Biotechnology • The document ‘Realising a Thriving Maltese Biotechnology Industry by 2015’ states that biotechnology has been identified by Malta Council for Science and Technology and Malta Enterprise as an area to be considered for further national investment in terms of research and innovation. • University offers degrees in life sciences BUT no course in biotechnology. • In order to meet the current demand for professionals in the area of agricultural biotechnology the Institute of Agriculture will be launching a Masters Degree program in October 2011.

6. Research related activities in the 1st Cycle • Research at IoA did not have a structured framework and consisted mainly of students’ dissertations and theses focusing mainly on issues of local agricultural relevance. • Recently IoA involved in research projects funded by the EU (FP’s, and Interreg) and local sources. • Students are recruited on projects and encouraged to integrate

7. Research related activities in the 1st Cycle • The 3 year period does not allow students enough time to undertake profound studies. • Nonetheless, stimulates promising students to pursue the 2nd cycle. • However, despite the fact that a number of projects were carried out, only a handful had Biosytems Engineering and Agriculture Biotechnology as their main theme.

8. Research related activities in the 2nd Cycle • Research in biotechnology at UoM date back to the 1970’s • Mainly carried out by the Dept. Physiology & Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine. • Funding tended to depend on the personal contacts and ambitions of the main research scientist to secure support from funding agencies. • The involvement of 2nd cycle students in these projects was minimal and often medically orientated.

9. Impact of Structural Funds • 1st programming period 2004-2006 allocated 7.6% of budget to R&I-related measures. • 2nd programming period 2007-2013 allocated just over €89m for R&I. • In addition, €3.5m have been allocated to R&D grants and another €20m to target human resource development, mainly through skills building programmes and post-graduate training.

10. Infrastructural Capacity Building • €47m of structural funds have been earmarked for upgrading of science, engineering and biotechnology laboratories at the University and the vocational College of Arts, Science and Technology. • Additional resources deployed to support research projects in areas of strategic importance for Malta • Manufacturing services • Biotechnology • Alternative energy sources

11. Human capacity building • €3m allocated for a bursary scheme for post-doctoral researchers working at the UoM (2-way mobility of researchers). • Additional €10m to support STEPS (Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarships) scholarship for MSc. and PhD studies in areas of strategic importance. • A science popularisation project implemented to attract more students into science careers.

12. Institutional Funding Support • Ministry operates a yearly budget that is approved by the national parliament. • Research budget is not pre-defined and the bulk goes to UoM and MCAST. • R&D undertaken by the local municipalities is negligible.

13. Institutional Funding Support • Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs responsible for climate change policy, alternative energy sources, science and technology, fisheries, oil exploration. • The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport responsible for the university and other higher education institutions and cultural heritage.

14. Institutional Funding Support • Apart from institutional funding, public funds dedicated to research include investments that run on an annual budgetary cycle, namely: • National Research and Innovation Funding Programme • Euro-Mediterranean Technology Initiative (Euro-MedITI). • Eureka Participation • measures such as scholarship schemes as well as national funds earmarked to co-finance research measures under the Cohesion Policy.

15. Euro-Mediterranean Technology Initiative (Euro-MedITI) • Euro-MedITI Initiative, aims to support development, customisation and transfer of innovating technologies in sectors with special relevance to Euro-Mediterranean. • A business venture between the Gov. of Malta through the MCST and other local partners University of Malta, Malta Enterprise and the Federation of Industry and high profile international partners Fraunhofer, VTT Technical Research Centre and Henry Tudor.

16. Euro-Mediterranean Technology Initiative (Euro-MedITI) • Intended to evolve as a partnership or joint venture with the government of Malta acting as a facilitator among the partners involved in collaborative research projects, training and capacity building and networking. • Initially focussing on innovation technology development and transfer in four main technology sectors: • Water and Environment, • Sustainable Energy, • ICTs and • Marine.

17. Eureka Programme • Since the launch of Eureka in 2006, €350k were committed to leverage over €1.2m worth of local research and development in enterprise. • To date, two companies are participating in the full Eureka programme

18. International Science and Technology Agreements • Malta has signed agreements on scientific and technological cooperation with EU and non-EU countries that encourage the undertaking of joint research projects. • S&T cooperation with Saudi Arabia • Medical services and public health and ICTs signed with Tunisia. • No funds for research are earmarked under the EEA/Norway and Swiss funds. • The Vth Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol allocates scholarships for Maltese students to undertake studies in Italy

19. Project-based funding • Public funding to support projects of national interest that provide a value-added to the economy. • The first project investigates local grape varieties and their cultivation and harvesting procedures. • The project is being implemented by the Viticulture and Oenology Unit within the Ministry together with IoA.

20. Life Sciences Centre • Ideally positioned within walking distance of the UoM and Mater Dei Hospital • Enabling a synergistic community, connecting university students, researchers, lecturers, hospital professional staff and industry to interact and establish new technology and research based firms.

21. M.Sc. Biosystems Engineering • The objective is to train students in two main but separate disciplines: crop production engineering and soil & waste management. • The program consists of a core study-units section and the two specialised units referred to above. • The research project comprises a substantial part of the degree program and students will devote most of the second year towards its undertaking. • It is the intention of IoA that the projects are carried out in cooperation with local industry or other institutions operating in the relevant field