Parliament is to debate a Motion presented by the Opposition regarding the establishment of Xjenza Malta – the new agency for research, science, and innovation, the Nationalist Party said.
The Opposition believes that a body within the Xjenza Malta agency, the Advisory Committee, should be composed of a broad representation of stakeholders involved in the research, science, and innovation sectors, as well as financial programmes. “To this end, the Opposition is proposing that representatives from the educational sector (the University of Malta and MCAST), a representative from industry nominated by the Chamber of Commerce, and a representative from the voluntary organisations operating in the science and research sector should all be included on the Advisory Committee. This contrasts with the Government’s approach in this legal notice, which allows the Government to appoint all members of the Advisory Committee.”
The PN “believes in the full participation of stakeholders through actions, not just words. At a time when our country ranks near the bottom in Europe for financial contribution to research in the Maltese economy, it is essential to strengthen our efforts together and make use of the talents of experts, rather than everyone working independently. In today’s debate, the Opposition will appeal to the Government to accept this change to the legal notice for the benefit of research, which in our country requires the genuine support of a government that truly believes Malta can have a high-quality economy based on innovation and research, like other European countries.”
In reaction, the Ministry of Eduation said that the Consultation Committee within Aġenzija Xjenza Malta will be formed according to recommendations made by the European Commission through a peer review that was done with the input of international experts in the sector of research and innovation.
It said that amongst these recommendations of the experts was an important one to make the administrative structure such that it will be independent and separate from government and beneficiaries as well as being transparent shaped with the necessary technical knowledge when it comes to scientific and technical recommendations and advice.
The ministry said that with reference to the Opposition’s statement the Minister believes that the Consultation Committee is intended to address the recommendations of the peer review and set up “an independent consultative forum”. It said that the direction on the part of the Commission in this regard is clear and should have been reflected in the regulatory structure and added this model is also used in international agencies, responsible for research and innovation, which make a distinction between the administrative leadership and the structures that are responsible for making scientific and technical recommendations.
The ministry said that the Consultation Committee as proposed by government is planned in a way that eliminates every possibility of conflict of interest within the framework of the governance of the Agency. It pointed out the government’s work that led to the advances that are occurring in the research and innovation sector and the work to continue pushing the sector forward through more resources and faith in the highly beneficial work that is being done by the government agency, Xjenza Malta.
The ministry said that in 2012, the government at the time had dedicated a total of €1.6 million towards research and innovation through a single program named “Research & Innovation Programme” that resulted in a significantly low and inadequate total of 8 projects. It said that this year, the expenditure is of €9 million in a total of 25 different programs and schemes administered by Xjenza Malta, a figure that doesn’t include other governmental investments that are done through other schemes administered by other entities, it said.
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Publish date : 2024-10-09 08:13:00
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