The past weeks have cemented government’s drive to boost Malta’s semiconductor industry. In my role as CEO at Malta Enterprise, I have never seen so much engagement and excitement surrounding this sector. I genuinely believe that we are on the right track to take this strategic activity to new heights.
During a visit to the ST Microelectronics factory where pilot projects for new digital and robotic equipment favouring automated technology in industry 4.0 are currently underway, Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that our country has all the right qualities to become a centre for European innovation and technology in the semiconductor sector.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Malta Enterprise and imec
A memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday between Malta Enterprise and imec, the world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The memorandum signifies Government’s intentions to strengthen the Maltese semiconductor ecosystem. It also consolidates the foundation of Government’s interest in the setting up of a Malta Competence Centre which will provide an array of opportunities for industry.
Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri addressed the Yearly Enterprise Innovation conference hosted by Malta Enterprise. This conference provided ample networking opportunities and brought together leading entrepreneurial minds in the country to explore themes of innovation and cutting-edge technology adoption in business.
The Ministry for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects is announcing that Malta Enterprise is extending the deadline for submission of applications for Micro Invest for self-employed individuals until the 10th of April 2024. The applications for the Micro Invest Scheme can be submitted via the corporation's client portal. The scheme encourages small businesses to invest in innovation, expansion, and development of their operations.
The Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects and Malta Enterprise in collaboration with the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government have launched a project together with ARTZ ID aimed at fostering the growth of the visual art community within the Kordin Business Incubation Center (KBIC) through an innovative partnership.
In early 2023, five European countries (the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) initiated discussions to adopt a new restriction under REACH, a European regulation for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.
The overall objective is to restrict the manufacturing, use and placing on the market of a group of chemicals called PFAS in the European Economic Area (EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway). PFAS are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water.
Malta Enterprise launched the stakeholder consultation for the start-up framework in 2023. This process has been finalised and has generated various insights from both public and private stakeholders on how to improve the startup eco-system. This Framework intends to create a holistic legislative and policy dimension to streamline the startup process from incorporation to end-stage, by catering to the feedback voiced by startups, corporate service providers, investors, and government entities.
Malta Enterprise organised a kick-off workshop with players from the semiconductors sector and academia to discuss the setting up of a Competence Centre. This sought to explore how players in the local eco-system can synergies together in this realm and to gauge better how to maximise the opportunities under the Chips Act The initiative which brought together leaders from across the semiconductor community, including businesses of various sizes and academia were given space to interact and voice out their reflections on the setting up of a competence centre.
Start-up scene in Europe has been characterised by lack of clarity
Major economies and those actors that have ambitions to leave an international mark are at a junction. Businesses are being called by investors and clients alike to ditch their traditional operational models and embrace more sustainable and innovative ones.