MINISTERU GHALL-EDUKAZZJONI, L-ISPORT, IZ-ZGHAZAGH, IR-RICERKA U L-INNOVAZZJONI

Their core work

Malta's government ministry responsible for national research and innovation policy, education, and international scientific cooperation. They coordinate Malta's participation in European Research Area initiatives, manage national funding schemes for SMEs and researchers, and shape policy on researcher mobility, gender equality in R&I, and STEM education. Their H2020 involvement centers on coordination and support actions — setting strategic agendas, aligning national policy with EU frameworks, and facilitating Mediterranean research partnerships rather than performing research directly.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Early H2020 participation (2015-2017) focused on building Malta's international research connections — Mediterranean partnerships (4PRIMA, SEMCRI 2017), researcher mobility (EURAXESS, MSCA conference), and SME innovation management (MELIITA). From 2017 onward, the focus shifted toward ERA policy implementation, gender mainstreaming, blue bioeconomy funding, and quantum technology coordination through ERA-NET cofunds. This reflects a maturing national R&I system moving from capacity-building and networking toward structured policy alignment and thematic funding coordination.

Moving from broad networking toward targeted ERA-NET cofunding in strategic domains (quantum, blue bioeconomy), suggesting Malta is ready to co-fund thematic research rather than just participate in coordination.

How they like to work

Overwhelmingly a participant rather than a leader — coordinated only 2 of 16 projects, both presidency conferences rather than multi-year initiatives. Works almost exclusively through Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and ERA-NET Cofunds, meaning their role is policy alignment, national scheme management, and co-funding rather than technical research. With 155 partners across 48 countries, they are a highly connected node despite Malta's small size, making them valuable for consortium geographic diversity and access to national funding instruments.

Remarkably broad network for a small island nation: 155 unique partners across 48 countries, reflecting participation in large pan-European coordination actions. Strong Mediterranean ties (4PRIMA, BLUEMED, SEMCRI) alongside EU-wide ERA policy networks.

What sets them apart

As Malta's R&I ministry, they are the gateway to Maltese national funding schemes, co-funding commitments, and policy-level endorsement for EU projects. Their dual strength in Mediterranean cooperation and ERA-wide policy networks makes them unusually well-connected for a small member state. For consortium builders, they offer geographic diversity (Malta is underrepresented in most consortia), access to national SME support schemes, and a direct line to policy implementation — valuable for projects needing member state buy-in or widening participation credentials.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SEMCRI 2017
  One of only two projects they coordinated — a Maltese EU Presidency conference on Euro-Mediterranean R&I cooperation with EUR 144,500 budget, their largest funded project.
• QuantERA II
  Signals a strategic pivot: Malta's ministry joining an ERA-NET Cofund in quantum technologies shows national commitment to co-fund frontier research, not just participate in policy talk.
• 4PRIMA
  Foundational role in building the PRIMA partnership for Mediterranean food and water research — one of the largest EU co-funded partnerships, with EUR 138,688 to Malta.