The eighth edition of the EU Blue Economy Report, presented in a new layout, provides a thorough overview of the scale and breadth of the Blue Economy within the European Union (EU). Its primary aim is to offer guidance to policymakers and stakeholders in fostering the growth of ocean-based and maritime-related markets and the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources. The Blue Economy sectors play an increasingly important role in achieving the European Commission’s key priorities to make the EU more competitive, sustainable, resilient and secure. By providing economic insights into the opportunities that emerge from the energy and digital transition, the Report also aims to attract investment in the Blue Economy sectors.
A few weeks ago, Xjenza Malta hosted an informative session covering the PRIMA Section 2 Call, PTMA, and NET2PRIMA schemes. This session aimed to provide prospective applicants with an overview of the funding opportunities, eligibility requirements, and practical tips for submitting successful proposals.
To ensure wider accessibility, the full recording has now been edited into three separate videos, each dedicated to one of the schemes. These videos are now available for on-demand viewing and can be accessed directly via the respective webpages for each call.
A spectacular cluster of marine filaments depicted the Sentinel3-OLCI satellite chlorophyll-a concentration image on Sunday 27th April. The image showing below is reproduced from the STREAM digital service which enables free, fast and easy access to satellite data on personal mobiles. Funded by the Space Research Fund of Xjenza Malta, STREAM is led by Professor Aldo Drago from the Oceanography Section of the Malta College for Arts, Science & Technology, in collaboration with two Maltese SMEs, MST AudioVisuals Ltd and THINK Design Ltd.
While such filaments are not uncommon in the stretch of sea south of Sicily, often disentangling in octopus-shaped cross-shore streaks, and reaching at times in close proximity to the Maltese Islands, the simultaneous occurrence of several filaments together is quite rare. The filaments carry the signature of biologically active water bodies, acting like spreading food for fish…
During a press conference, the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights, Alicia Bugeja Said, together with the Aquatic Resources Malta Agency (ARM), announced the details of a new scheme that will provide financial compensation to fishermen with registered vessels who apply to collaborate with researchers during their fishing trips.
This innovative scheme aims to facilitate the collection of real-time data from the sea, by directly involving fishermen in the research process. With this step, Malta is setting an example of how the fishing community can be an integral part of the sustainable management of marine resources.
It was explained that licensed fishermen who apply for this scheme to collaborate in the collection of data on their vessels, will be selected according to established criteria. They will be compensated approximately €320 per catch under…
The urgent environmental challenges and a growing need for sustainable solutions have put the construction industry at a turning point. A new research project at the university is investigating an innovative method for developing high-performance, eco-friendly building materials by combining industrial by-products and construction waste with 3D concrete printing.
Conventional construction techniques present limitations, mostly depend on human interventions, and consume great quantities of natural resources. They are also responsible for a significant share of carbon emissions and the generation of solid waste. In fact, construction and demolition waste accounts for up to 40% of the world’s total solid waste. The challenges encountered by the traditional construction methods might be well addressed by 3D concrete printing technique. At the same time, concrete presents a unique opportunity through the incorporation of recycled materials…
Marine lightscapes, meaning the distribution and quality of light in marine environments, are emerging as a critical area of scientific inquiry due to their changes over the last century. Marine lightscapes are indeed experiencing two fundamental transformations: coastal darkening and the proliferation of artificial light at night. In one respect, some regions have experienced a long-term reduction in water clarity, referred to as coastal darkening, with large-scale drivers notably connected to effects of climate change and eutrophication. Conversely, urbanisation, fisheries, on- and offshore infrastructures, and shipping have increased the amount of artificial light at night (ALAN) pollution in many marine areas.
JPI Oceans has always been a pioneer in identifying urgent topics that address under-…
Malta Vision 2050 is a national initiative shaping Malta’s long-term development. It sets a clear direction with measurable targets for 2035 and beyond, unifying various sectoral strategies under one comprehensive framework to guide national progress until 2050.
The Vision ensures all national policies align with today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges. It promotes sustainable growth, resilience, and an improved quality of life, in line with European and global trends.
Shaping Malta’s Future, Together Malta Vision 2050 is more than just a policy framework—it is our national commitment to a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. Through this vision, we are planning beyond political cycles, offering clarity, stability, and peace of mind for the years ahead.
The Commission has launched a consultation on the Action Plan for the cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers.
The Action Plan is crucial to protect the healthcare sector from cyber threats and contributes to the successful implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). By improving threat detection, preparedness, and response capabilities of hospitals and health providers, it will create a safer and more secure environment for patients and healthcare professionals.
In recent years, Member States have reported significant cybersecurity incidents affecting the healthcare sector—more than in any other critical sector. This Action Plan addresses the specific and urgent threats…
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership is launching the first call for access to Research Infrastructures [2025 TA Call to RIs], enabling applicants from the pan-European blue economy community to submit a proposal for utilising the Research Infrastructures (RIs) made available by providers partners of the Partnership. The call aims to implement the Partnership’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) by addressing key intervention areas, supporting internationalisation, and promoting Open Data and Open Science. It seeks to enhance innovation, align national investments with EU strategies, and improve operational efficiency by optimising the use and sharing of RIs.
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership offers a portfolio of 49 Research Infrastructure services through the integrated availability of the following typology of RIs:
BLUEDOTS Project opened an application for the first Living Lab in Málaga, Spain, two-day transnational capacity-building event under BLUEDOTS project.
The Open Call for Proposals for Financial Support is targeting Social Economy SMEs and enabling organizations in the blue sector across Europe.
This initiative is designed to foster the digital transformation of operations within the blue economy, driving a transition toward smarter, more sustainable, and inclusive business models.
The central implementation mechanism of JPI Oceans is that of Joint Actions. They are formed around topics that fall under JPI Oceans’ thematic scope and contribute to its goals. They are supported by the interest and commitment of several member or associated countries under the leadership of one or co-leadership of several member countries and have developed a concept for implementation, including plans for resourcing, outcomes and impact.
Visit the below link to learn more about JPI Oceans' Joint Actions.
‘Intellectual Property’ refers to all products and works that are the fruit of the human mind and therefore plays a significant role in our daily lives. Rights accorded by the state in respect of intellectual property such as copyright, patents, trademarks and registered designs provide businesses, artists and inventors with a means to protect products and creations and also encourage them to invest in innovation and creativity to the benefit of society.
The Malta Intellectual Property Awards are aimed at recognising and promoting the creation of Intellectual Property in Malta. The Award has four categories:
Award for Creative Initiative
The ‘Award for Creative Initiative’ rewards individuals or enterprises operating in the cultural and creative sectors. For the purposes of the ‘Malta Intellectual Property Awards’,…
Air pollution remains a critical challenge as urban populations grow and vehicle numbers rise. Addressing this, researchers at the University of Malta (UM) are developing innovative air quality sensors as part of the PolyMEMSens project, funded by Xjenza Malta and the Scientific Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK) through the XJENZA Malta-TÜBITAK 2023 Joint Call for R&I projects. This initiative is part of the PRIMA Programme supported by the European Union
Traditional air quality sensors are either expensive and bulky or affordable but lack precision. The team at the University of Malta is bridging this gap by designing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensors. These devices use vibrating structures coated with specialised polymers, currently being developed by the team at Sabancı University, that selectively absorb VOCs, causing frequency shifts that enable accurate concentration…
CHI-MA-HAEM-NET, is a collaborative R&I project between Prof Guo at Soochow University, China, and Prof Gatt at the Department of Pathology, University of Malta, looking at various aspects of Haemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder, in both China and Malta.
This joint venture was essential to study a similar rare disorder. Also of paramount importance was the alliance with the Malta Bleeding Disorders Society, since this research directly impacted on the quality of life of the same persons participating. One example was the establishment of a Haemophilia register, which is standard of care in Europe for the day to day management of haemophilia…
An Open Call for Associated Regions was launched on March 1, 2025, within WP5 (Development of replication activities and solution implementation roadmap) of the project. The call is open to Third Parties of the Associated Region that will apply by proposing a replication site, with similar characteristics to the ones included in the RHE-MEDiation project, where assessing the replicability potential of the RHE-MEDiation technologies will be carried out. The five selected replication sites will be provided with a grant financial support scheme and receive up to 100.000€ per site, thus complementing the exploitation and replication activity of the RHE-MEDiation technologies by sharing knowledge to maximise future implementation opportunities.
Eligible beneficiaries for this call are local and/or regional organizations (public entities) established in an EU Member State, EU Overseas…
The STAR project, financed by Xjenza Malta through the FUSION: R&I Research Excellence Programme, has successfully concluded, bringing new opportunities for students working on their final-year dissertations. The STAR prototype was presented to the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) staff and students during an event held on 25 February at the MCAST’s Applied Research & Innovation Centre.
The MCAST research team, led by the MCAST Director of Information Systems Mr Gerard Said Pullicino, developed an AI-powered tool that helps students gather and organise research materials more efficiently. Students can use this smart system to automatically compile relevant information into a digital research scrapbook. By adapting to different learning styles, the tool makes it easier for students to connect research findings to their dissertation topics. During the event, the research team shared an experiment that was carried out using AI to assist students to…
Leading scientists and experts on the topic convened in Brussels and remotely on 21-22 January 2024, for the second JPI Oceans scoping workshop focused on Offshore Freshened Groundwater (OFG). The workshop aimed to identify knowledge gaps and lay the groundwork for future collaborative research, including a potential demonstration project. The two-day event built upon the conclusions of the first scoping workshop held in August 2024.
Groundwater stored in sub-seafloor sediments with lower salinity than seawater, jargonised as OFG, presents a promising alternative source of freshwater for coastal regions. The occurrences are currently considered as unconventional water resources in the framework of scientific research and the United Nations’ implementation of the …
On 12 February, the European Commission published a Communication on "The Road to the next Multiannual Financial Framework" (MFF), addressing key challenges for the next EU budget, which will begin post-2027. The current MFF runs until 2027, with the Commission set to propose a new framework in 2025, focusing on simplicity, flexibility, speed, and strategic focus.
The MFF package will include a proposal for a European Competitiveness Fund to support strategic technologies, from research to manufacturing. This decision aids preparatory work but does not finalize the future program structure.
Additionally, six public consultations are open until 7 May 2025, covering areas such as: