-
Welcome to plumtriA platform for Research & Innovation -
Looking for Funding?Check out the current open calls -
Register today to start receiving our monthly newsletter -
Looking to partner up?Search our list of registered profiles -
You have questions on a particular funding programme?
News
Uploaded On:
Endorsed by the #OceanDecade, the WCMB 2026 will provide a platform for policymakers, scientists, conservationists, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to discuss current and emerging marine biodiversity issues and identify ways to protect and sustainably manage marine ecosystems and their resources. It will offer a unique opportunity to evaluate ongoing initiatives and identify what still needs to be achieved by the Decade's end.
Submit your session proposal focused on the theme: “The marine biodiversity insights we need, for the ocean we want.” Sessions can centre around networks, projects, initiatives, or key scientific topics of broad…
Uploaded On:
The OPoBiCell project, focuses on transforming waste from olive oil production into valuable bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including anti-cancer properties. This innovative project combines advanced extraction methods, cell culture, and molecular analysis to understand and optimize the health benefits of olive pomace. Below, we explore the project’s methodologies, focusing on extraction with methanol, cell viability testing and protein analysis, liposome encapsulation and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Olive Pomace Extraction with Methanol
Methanol extraction is an efficient way to isolate phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and other bioactive molecules from olive pomace (Jakopic et al., 2009). In the OPoBiCell project, methanol was used in order to its effectiveness in breaking down cell walls, allowing the release of phenolics…
Uploaded On:
In a constantly evolving world of medical devices, the MaltaHip Project presents an advancement in prosthetic technology that aims to tackle some of the persistent challenges associated with traditional hip implants. Requiring an interdisciplinary approach, the MaltaHip brought together Prof. Pierre Schembri-Wismayer (Department of Anatomy), Prof. Ing. Pierluigi Mollicone (Department of Mechanical Engineering), and Prof Ing. Joseph Buhagiar, Dr Ing. Donald Dalli, Dr Leonardo Fanton, and Prof. Ing. Bertram Mallia (Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering). This multidisciplinary team from the…
Uploaded On:
As the year draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable contributions to the research & innovation community.
Together, we have fostered collaborations, shared knowledge and pushed boundaries, driving impactful progress.
In the new year stay connected with the latest updates on plumtri.org, your platform for collaborations and growth opportunities.
Happy Holidays from plumtri.org Team.
Uploaded On:
In a rapidly evolving global landscape, research and innovation (R&I) are pivotal for sustainable growth, economic development, and addressing pressing societal challenges. Omar Cutajar, Senior Director at Xjenza Malta, sheds light on the organisation’s strategic funding initiatives, industry collaborations, and international R&I partnerships.
With an increased allocation for the FUSION national portfolio for R&I programmes, and a bold vision for sectors such as health, smart manufacturing, marine and maritime technologies, sustainable resources, aviation, and even space research, Xjenza Malta is positioning Malta as a key player in the European R&I ecosystem.
Xjenza Malta has significantly expanded its budget to support the FUSION programme, growing from €5 million to €6.3 million, thanks to the new appropriations provided by Government’s 2025 budget.
…
Uploaded On:
The VI Ministerial Conference of the 5+5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation, and Higher Education was held today, December 6, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal, under the Presidency of Portugal and the Co-Presidency of Mauritania. The conference was attended by Ministers of Education, University and Research and the Heads of Delegation from Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Libya, Spain, Portugal, and Tunisia, along with observer delegates from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), and the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED).
The 5+5 Dialogue is a key intergovernmental forum aimed at fostering collaboration among Western Mediterranean countries in strategic areas such as science, technology,…
Uploaded On:
The CNR-ISMed is launching a “Call for Chapters” for the 2025 edition of Mediterranean Economies, “The Mediterranean between Economy and Geopolitics: Global Challenges and New Balances” edited by Salvatore Capasso and Giovanni Canitano @edizionimulino
Deadline: December 30, 2024
Visit the below link to read the full call specifications.
Information and logo source:
Uploaded On:
Transitional care refers to the coordination and continuity of healthcare during transitions from one healthcare setting to another or to home, involving healthcare practitioners and settings as patients' conditions and care needs evolve during the course of a chronic or acute illness.
This questionnaire aims to capture the perspectives of relevant stakeholders to assess the impacts and challenges of promoting innovation in transitional healthcare.
Participate in this survey by visiting the below link.
Information and image source:
Uploaded On:
A JRC study applies an innovative model to estimate the healthcare workforce needed in the EU until 2071, while taking into account current and future turnover of health professionals, demographic change and healthy ageing. Based on data from 2021, the model allows to make projections for a period of 50 years at individual country and EU level.
The study Healthcare workforce demand and supply in the EU27 can help national authorities across EU countries to anticipate needs and plan staffing of healthcare services in the long-term to address the demographic challenges of the ageing EU population and the healthcare workforce.
The ageing population in Europe is driving an increased demand for healthcare services, with the proportion of citizens aged 65 and over expected…
Uploaded On:
Plastic plays a crucial role in our daily lives; however, it also poses significant global environmental and economic concerns. As plastics enter the ocean, they break down into smaller particles—microplastics and nanoplastics—due to factors such as UV rays, wind, and other environmental influences. These particles are ubiquitous, threatening marine ecosystems and human health. In response to this growing issue, JPI Oceans launched a transnational joint call in 2014 titled "Ecological Aspects of Microplastics in the Marine Environment", which resulted in the funding of four projects running from 2016 to 2019. The findings generated on ecotoxicological effects of microplastics, the weathering of plastics, and baselines for microplastics analyses in European basins are summarised in a short brochure.
Building on the results from the first call, a…
Uploaded On:
Malta has secured its first-ever Horizon Europe European Research Council (ERC) Grant, awarded to Dr. Huw Groucutt, a lecturer in Mediterranean prehistory at the Department of Classics and Archaeology within the Faculty of Arts, at the University of Malta.
With nearly €2 million in funding under the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant scheme, the TerraForm project will embark on a groundbreaking study into the origins, evolution, and impacts of agricultural terracing in Malta.
Terracing, a farming technique that uses stone walls to retain soil on sloping land, has long been hailed as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture. It mitigates soil erosion and prevents flooding. As one of the most intensively terraced landscapes globally, Malta presents an extraordinary opportunity to investigate the development and significance of this practice. While the origins of Maltese terraces…
Uploaded On:
The EU’s Regional Flagship Projects Call (EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP), focuses on fostering Smart Specialization and Innovation in the sustainable blue economy (Topic 1).
The 3Sea4All Project proposal aims to foster regional cooperation across three European maritime basins—the Atlantic, West Mediterranean, and Black Sea—by uniting key stakeholders from the quadruple and quintuple helix (research, industry, public institutions, civil society, and active citizens).
Key Objectives of the project:
- Governance: Identify innovative policies and develop financial support mechanisms for enterprises.
- Academia: Launch joint R&D activities, promote training programs,…
Uploaded On:
The Youth4Ocean Forum is inviting young leaders to apply to become EU Young Ocean Advocates and help champion Blue Citizenship at the UN Ocean Conference 2025! Selected advocates will support collective efforts to bring the concept of Blue Citizenship—linking ocean literacy with active participation in democracy—to a global stage. Applications are open until November 30, 2024.
What is Blue Citizenship?
Blue Citizenship connects the idea of ocean literacy with civic responsibility, encouraging individuals and communities to participate in protecting the ocean just as they would in supporting democracy. This initiative emphasizes that everyone has a role in the health and sustainability of the ocean. By enhancing understanding of ocean policies and governance, Blue Citizenship empowers people to advocate for policies that ensure marine conservation and sustainable use…
Uploaded On:
Carmen Frendo, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Business, Management & Commerce, MCAST was invited to showcase the UNIMED project at the MED-WET final project event on 28 October 2024. The event was aimed at the exploration of sustainable water management solutions for farming communities in the Mediterranean region.
MED-WET is an initiative which aims at providing efficient low-cost and nature-based technologies and practices to improve the irrigation efficiency of small farmers in the Mediterranean region. The project involves partners from Malta, Germany, Egypt, Morocco and Portugal. MED-WET is 100% funded by Xjenza Malta through the PRIMA Programme, which is supported by the European Union.
The aim of the UNIMED project is to develop a unified, indicator-based, framework to better assess, adapt and ultimately cope with agricultural droughts under Mediterranean climate change conditions.…
Uploaded On:
The demand for sustainable practices in the food and pharmaceutical industries has led to innovative research projects transforming waste into valuable products. One such byproduct, olive pomace, offers significant environmental challenges. Through advanced scientific processes, researchers have found ways to extract valuable bioactive compounds and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from olive pomace, transforming waste into ingredients with wide-ranging applications.
Introduction to Olive Pomace and the Need for Sustainability
Olive oil production is a booming industry, especially around the Mediterranean (Mazzotti, 2004). Olive oil is a staple in many diets and is valued for its health benefits, particularly for heart health (Foscolou et al., 2018). However, the production process leaves behind substantial waste. For every Liter of olive…
Uploaded On:
The results from the Open Consultation on the priorities of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the European Partnership for BrainHealth are in!
Between July 17 and August 21, more than 550 respondents contributed to the development of a comprehensive roadmap aimed at promoting and preserving brain health while reducing the burden for people living with brain disorders across Europe.
Key research priorities and innovation areas of the SRIA include:
1. Promoting Brain Health and Preventing Disorders to identify brain health determinants and promote early prevention strategies across the lifespan,
2. Improving Early Detection, Treatment and Care for timely detection of brain disorders and innovative, personalised, therapeutic strategies – including digital and AI-powered tools,
3. Enhancing Care and Support to accelerate the translation of research into clinical practice, enable patient engagement in research and foster access to…
Uploaded On:
The PRIMA Programme, an EU partnership under Horizon Europe, has launched an online survey to gather input from stakeholders across the Mediterranean to help define new Research and Innovation (R&I) priorities for a potential Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) under the renewed PRIMA Partnership. This input will shape PRIMA’s future R&I agenda and contribute to the region’s sustainable development efforts.
Stakeholders from academia, NGOs, the private sector, and civil society are encouraged to participate in the online survey, which is available from September to November 2024. The survey aims to capture diverse insights on key issues such as water management, sustainable farming, and the agri-food value chain, as well as potential new focus areas, including climate change, renewable energy, health, and marine ecosystems.
…
Uploaded On:
The 8th issue of the EU Copernicus Ocean State Report (OSR 8) is now available online, published alongside an interactive Summary detailing key aspects of the report for policymakers, members of the blue economy and the general public. This year’s report reveals — among many findings — an ocean facing record-breaking extreme events, including deep and intense marine heatwaves, unexpected phytoplankton blooms, as well as increased ocean warming.
The OSR 8 is a flagship report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the current state, ongoing trends and natural variations of the ocean. It is published each year by the Copernicus Marine Service and implemented by Mercator Ocean International. Beyond highlighting major results, the Summary showcases a range…
Uploaded On:
The National Research Council of Italy (CNR) is offering researchers a unique opportunity to access ship time aboard their cutting-edge research vessel, the R/V Gaia Blu. Designed for a broad range of marine studies, from oceanographic surveys to environmental monitoring, this vessel offers an ideal platform to carry out innovative projects that contribute to the understanding of the marine environment in the Mediterranean region.
This opportunity goes beyond offering ship time; researchers can propose a variety of projects, including research cruises, the chance to broaden data collection during pre-scheduled cruises, and even educational, training, or outreach-focused cruises. The vessel can also support long-term monitoring efforts to build valuable time-series data or assist in the maintenance of marine…
Uploaded On:
Xjenza Malta participated in a series of pivotal events organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) on October 2nd and 3rd, 2024, in Cairo. Representing Malta as government stakeholders and the national focal point for the UfM Regional Platform in Research and Innovation, George Bugeja (Deputy Director), and Felipe Nalin Abdala (Executive in Policy and Strategy) of the Internationalization Unit, were actively engaged in discussions that are shaping the future of science diplomacy, research, and innovation in the Mediterranean.
The High-Level Meeting on Science Diplomacy, held on October 2, 2024, was a collaborative effort between the UfM, the League of Arab States (LAS), and the European Commission. This event gathered diplomats, scientists, and policymakers to explore how science, technology, and innovation can drive diplomatic dialogue and cooperation across the Mediterranean. Key topics included the link…
