International collaboration and cooperation in Research and Innovation (R&I) play a pivotal role in boosting Malta’s R&I ecosystem. The Malta Council for Science and Technology has facilitated such scientific collaborations by offering different opportunities for Malta-based researchers to effectively exchange resources, ideas and expertise across international borders through knowledge-sharing activities. Such activities include training and mobility activities as well as participation in transnational RDI projects that address regional and/or global challenges that cannot be addressed by one country alone.

An internationalisation initiative that has been consistently growing is the MCST-TÜBÏTAK Bilateral Programme. This programme has been established through a collaborative agreement between the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) that was signed in 2020. Since then, three Joint Calls for R&I proposals have been successfully launched.

The most recent Joint Call launched in 2023 marked a significant milestone, characterized by an expansion of the Programme’s budget and thematic areas, resulting in the funding of five projects with an awarded Malta national budget of circa EUR440,000. These projects, which are listed below, span various thematic areas, namely Water Management, Farming Systems, Agro-Food Value Chain, Digital Technologies, Smart Manufacturing, and Health.

The Highly Selective Piezoelectric MEMS VOC Sensors with Functional Polymer Nanostructures (PolyMEMSens) project, coordinated by Prof. Ivan Grech on behalf of the University of Malta (UOM) and Prof. Gözde İnce on behalf of the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNRAC), aims to develop a novel VOC gas sensor for IoT air quality monitoring applications. The gas sensor will consist of a piezoelectric MEMS resonator device developed by UM and integrated double-layer functional polymer nanostructures developed by SUNUM. The frequency shift of the gas sensor's target resonant frequency will indicate gas sorption. The project will focus on achieving high electromechanical transduction efficiency and a large sensing area using a high-frequency MEMS resonating structure. To overcome the electromechanical limitations of cantilever and clamped beam structures, a novel piezoelectric MEMS resonator will be developed, which will have improved manufacturing and transduction efficiency compared to electrostatic actuation. The sensing area will be coated with polymeric nanostructures designed to selectively adhere to target VOCs, specifically IPA molecules. To enable reversibility, a temperature-responsive polymer will be employed. Finally, to protect the sensing area against humidity and allow adhesion of smaller molecules, a porous, thin film will encapsulate the functional polymer.

Accelerating microwave HYPERthermia for Breast cancer treatment- HYPER4B is being coordinated by Dr. Lourdes Farrugia on behalf of the University of Malta (UOM) and Prof. Gulsah Yildiz Altintas on behalf of the Istanbul Technical University (ITU). Microwave Hyperthermia (MW HT) is an adjuvant local anti-cancer treatment using temperatures exceeding the physiologically optimal level. The elevated temperatures (40℃-44℃ ) of the tumor region is used to obtain an additive effect together with other treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments. The increase in temperature at the tumor region can inhibit the process of cell division, as well as the ability of cancer cells to metastasize. Additionally, this will increase oxygenation through enhanced blood circulation increasing the effectiveness of the current treatment procedures.

Hyper4B will focus on the clinical challenges for the treatment of breast cancer and will see through the implementation of a fully automated MW HT system with quasi-real time monitoring of temperature of the targeted region. Different antenna configurations will be studied along with optimization of the beam focusing algorithms. Additionally, changes in the tumor microenvironment will be exploited, laying the groundwork for more advanced clinical devices.

An Integrated System Design for Olive Growing Enabled by Artificial Intelligence Technology in Rural Areas of Med Regions Addressing Water, Soil and Energy Challenges (SOLEATECH) project, coordinated by Barbara Bracone on behalf of WES Trade Ltd and Dr. ZEYNEP TACER CABA on behalf of Bahçeşehir University (BU), aims at carrying out technological research to improve productivity, efficiency and  sustainability of the Mediterranean olive trees farming systems in rural areas. This would be done through the development of tools and knowledge to enhance resilience addressing challenges of water, soil and energy introduced by the Climate Change.  The project aspires to create new sustainable ways in managing the soil, preventing yield losses and enhancing food quality through the development of integrated soil data correlations for the Mediterranean regions identified and monitored by an Artificial Intelligence algorithm.

3D manufacturing of developed sustainable coating materials for building retrofitting and energy efficiency (SMACORT) is a project being coordinated by Prof. Reuben Paul Borg on behalf of the University of Malta and Prof. Mustafa Şahmaran on behalf of Hacettepe University. Construction and Demolition waste (CDW) are generated in large volumes, presenting environmental concerns with economic and social impacts. The project aims at providing sustainable solutions based on CDW, to satisfy ever-increasing building energy demands by energy saving approaches. The project is to exploit 3D manufacturing technology for the development of cladding materials for building retrofitting and energy efficiency. The project will adapt 3D concrete printing to cement-free concrete made from CDW materials and shall address the performance characteristics of green geo polymeric concrete mixtures developed for sustainable 3D printing of construction elements. The project innovation and contribution to knowledge lies in the recycling of CDW for green geo polymeric concrete production without relying on cement as a binder. Furthermore, SMACORT will bring together the latest technological innovations in digital fabrication and construction materials and thus provide globally applicable solutions to the environmental, economic and other adverse impacts of CDW on society.

ICT-enabled Bee Foraging Sites and Beekeeper Routes Optimization for Efficient Honey Production (BEE OPTECH4Honey) project, coordinated by Prof. David Mifsud on behalf of the University of Malta (UOM) and Dr. Şahin Aydın on behalf of the Işık University, will focus on enhancing honey production quality through the optimization of honeybee foraging sites and beehive transhumance routes using ICT and a GIS-based model. These tools will utilize real-world data to identify ideal locations for nectar sites and optimal migratory routes, thereby increasing the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of beekeeping in Malta and Sicily.

BEE OPTECH4Honey will involve researchers and stakeholders in both Malta and Türkiye and will provide a comprehensive solution to modern challenges in beekeeping, including the impacts of climate change and urbanization on traditional beekeeping practices. The anticipated outcome is a robust and versatile system that can be deployed in real-world scenarios.

MCST and TÜBİTAK are currently preparing to launch the 2024 Joint Call for R&I proposals in the first quarter of the year, aiming to foster more innovative projects and build upon the success of previous endeavors.  This will be the 4th iteration of the fund, providing bottom-up opportunities for projects in areas of Water Management, Farming Systems, Agro-Food Value Chain, Digital Technologies, Smart Manufacturing and Health. Malta-based eligible entities will have the opportunity to request up to EUR100,000 per project proposal. 

For further information on the MCST-TÜBİTAK Fund, please reach out to MCST at prima.mcst@gov.mt.  

MCST-TÜBİTAK Joint Call for R&I Proposals is part of the PRIMA Programme supported by the European Union.

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