While awaiting the publication of the official notice in the Official Gazette, the following documents are now available online:

• The text of Public Call No. 2/2025 for the submission of cooperation project proposals under the INTERREG VI-A Italy-Malta Programme;

• The related selection criteria for operations, approved by the Programme Monitoring Committee on 29/07/2025.

The text of the call and the selection criteria are published for informational purposes only and may be subject to minor changes. They do not have legal value until their publication in the Official Gazette of the Region of Sicily.

Visit the below link to download the full documentation.

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This funding guide was developed in response to requests from the Japanese research community and brings together, in a single document, information on funding opportunities available in both the EU and Japan.

The guide is  organised around key stages and interests in a research career, from doctoral  training and postdoctoral research to independent research, international  mobility, collaborative or consortium-based projects, and even the  commercialisation of research results. For each area, it outlines relevant  funding opportunities on both the EU and Japanese sides.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally transforming the scientific process across all stages, from hypothesis generation and experimental design to data analysis, peer review and dissemination of results. In many research fields, such as the examined protein structure prediction, materials discovery and computational humanities, AI accelerates discovery, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and enhances reproducibility, while improving access to advanced analytical and computational capabilities. These developments align with the European Union (EU)’s vision to make AI tools and infrastructure more accessible, strengthening research in areas of strategic importance such as climate change, health, and clean technologies. However, this progress introduces new challenges, including concerns about algorithmic bias, the proliferation of hallucinations and fabricated data, and the potential erosion of critical thinking skills. AI Adoption remains uneven across scientific domains, and addressing these risks requires robust governance, transparency and alignment with open-science principles. This report, accompanying the publication of the European Strategy for AI in Science, provide scientific evidence to support policymakers in maximising AI’s benefits for EU’s research excellence, innovation and competitiveness, while ensuring its deployment in science remains ethical, inclusive and aligned with European values.

Read the full report by clicking on the below link.

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The widespread use of synthetic glass and carbon fibres in the composite manufacturing industry offers strength and rigidity but poses environmental challenges. Synthetic fibres and resins are derived from petrochemicals, are difficult to recycle, and may pose environmental or health risks during production. Natural fibres, such as sisal and flax, present a more sustainable alternative, especially when paired with biodegradable resins. Flax derived from the Linseed plant, has strong mechanical properties but is costly to cultivate, while Sisal extracted from the Agave Sisalana plant is cheaper and easier to grow but harder to process. Hybrid composites using both fibres can enhance performance, lower costs, and improving sustainability. The project ECO-Composite developed Hybrid Flax/Sisal bio-based composites and investigates the mechanical, environmental, and processing aspects of such hybrid applications to support greener industrial materials.

ECO-Composite project received funding from Xjenza Malta and the Ministry for Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST), through the SINO-MALTA Fund 2022 Call (Science and Technology Cooperation).

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Imagine the ability to produce a critical spare part—such as a precision bracket used to securely mount components—within hours rather than weeks. This is the transformative potential of metal additive manufacturing, commonly known as metal 3D printing. This innovative technology is currently being researched at the University of Malta.

While metal 3D printing offers incredible rapid production turnaround and design flexibility, one key limitation persists: surface quality. Parts produced by powder bed fusion and other AM techniques typically exhibit high roughness due to incomplete powder melting and due to the so-called staircase effect, which results from the inherit layered nature of the process. These surface defects can compromise the mechanical and tribological performance of fabricated parts when compared to their conventionally manufactured counterparts. To address this challenge, the Green Laser Post-Processing in Additive Manufacturing (GLAM) project has been focusing on improving the surface finish through a combination of process optimisation and post-processing techniques. 

One of the principal focus areas of this project is to understand how surface roughness correlates with part performance. To investigate this, first an optical non-contact profilometer was used to assess the difference in surface roughness on a series of test samples. These include both as-built samples and samples subjected to a chemical post-processing technique involving immersion in a dilute acid solution composed of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and nitric acid (HNO₃). The figure below illustrates the change in topography between the before and after acid treatment. Preliminary results demonstrate that immersion in acid mixture leads to a measurable reduction in surface roughness; investigations are now underway to observe the subsequent effect of this topographical improvement towards wear resistance on components in contact under relative motion. 

In parallel, the research team is also examining the ability of inherent surface irregularities - before and after post-processing - to act as controlled micro-reservoirs, reducing friction under lubricant-starved operating conditions.

The outcomes of the GLAM project have wide-ranging applications across sectors such aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering where components with complex geometries, extended fatigue life, and excellent tribological performance are essential. On a national level, this work has the potential to reduce reliance on imported components, lower production costs, and promote more agile and sustainable locally customised manufacturing.

This article explores the research being carried out by Mr Kris Bajada, Dr. Andre Giordimaina, Prof. Arif Rochman, and project lead Prof. Inġ. Glenn Cassar from the University of Malta, together with Dr. Inġ. Bonnie Attard from The Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology. The GLAM (SINO-MALTA-2022-13) project was financed by XJENZA Malta and the Ministry for Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST), through the SINO-MALTA Fund 2022 (Science and Technology Cooperation).

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Malta, October 7th, 2025 – The BIORAS_SHRIMP project, part-financed by Xjenza Malta through the BlueBio ERA-NET Cofund on Blue Bioeconomy and Xjenza Malta, organised a specialised training course about "Improvement and Innovation of a Bio-secure Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for shrimp and Additional Biomass Circular Production: Theory and Practice" The event took place last September 4 - 5, 2025, at the AquaBioTech Group Research facilities in Mosta and Aquatic Resources Malta’s facilities Għammieri Farm, in Luqa.

The course was designed to enhance knowledge and practical skills for the sustainable and bio-secure management of shrimp culture using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). Participants engaged in in-depth theoretical sessions covering the design and management of RAS for shrimp, aquaculture effluent treatment, growth performance metrics, integrated biomass production such as aquaponics and microalgae culture, sludge reuse, and disease prevention strategies. Practical hands-on training followed, with sessions conducted at both AquaBioTech and Aquatic Resources Malta experimental RAS facilities, focusing on shrimp rearing protocols and effluent treatment techniques including coagulation and flocculation tests for sludge thickening.

This intensive two-day course was attended by professionals from the countries engaged in the BIORAS_SHRIMP project consortium: India, Italy, Malta, and Norway. Participation was offered free of charge.

Farming shrimp sustainably in Europe is crucial to provide consumers with safe, traceable, and high-quality seafood while minimizing environmental impacts such as water pollution and ecosystem degradation. The development of sustainable shrimp aquaculture in Europe could support local production, reduces reliance on imports, preserves delicate habitats, and fosters innovation bio-secure, circular production systems that enhance resource efficiency and climate resilience in the blue bioeconomy sector.

The BIORAS_SHRIMP training course represented a step towards greener, circular, and biosecure shrimp aquaculture innovations in Europe.

Contact: Simona Paolacci, AquaBio Tech Group

Email: sip@aquabt.com

Check out the below video on this project.

Follow their social media channels: LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Blue Bio ERA-NET co-fund: 

The Blue Bio COFUND is the result of a collaboration between JPI Oceans and the former ERA-NETS COFASP and ERA MBT and consists of 27 partners from 16 countries.

The main objective of the COFUND is to establish a coordinated R&D funding scheme that will strengthen Europe’s position in the blue bioeconomy. The first co-funded call launched 17 December 2018. The COFUND partners have committed EUR 23,5 million, which will make up a maximum total budget of EUR 30 million including EUR 6.5 million co-funding from the European Commission.

The goal is to identify new and improve existing ways of bringing bio-based products and services to the market and find new ways of creating value from in the blue bioeconomy. Next to the co-funded call, the COFUND plans to contribute to the national priorities as well as to the strategic research agenda of JPI Oceans, and the ERA-NETs COFASP and MBT.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) from local companies, firms, and professionals with proven expertise in technology and innovation.

The objective is to establish a trusted network of experts who can support Maltese businesses in carrying out the digitalisation transformation that they might require. The aim is to connect these businesses with reliable technology partners and strategic advisors. This initiative forms part of The Malta Chamber’s ongoing efforts to drive digitalisation, foster innovation, and strengthen Malta’s competitiveness in line with Vision 2050.

EoI responses are to be sent via email on eoi@maltachamber.org.mt by not later than 31 October 2025.

Visit the below link to download the full documentation.

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The OSR 9 provides information on changes and variations in the ocean over the past decades, with a focus on 2023 and 2024 extreme events. This year's publication explores the deeply interconnected nature of the impacts of ocean change with changes in marine ecosystems, human society, culture, and the economy.   

The OSR is a yearly scientific collaboration involving more than 100 experts from Europe and around world, and compiled by the Copernicus Marine Service. 

Using observation-based (remote sensing, in situ) and ocean reanalysis data, the OSR provides a comprehensive 4-dimensional (latitude, longitude, depth, and time) analysis of the Blue, Green, and White Ocean. The OSR is intended to act as a reference, providing a unique ocean monitoring dashboard for the scientific community. The Summary presents a clear overview of the key takeaways of the report, specifically created for policy makers and others with decision-making responsibilities, and for citizens at large.

Click on the below link to read the full report.

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