Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy SCIENCE POLICY OFFICE, MALTA CHAMBER OF SCIENTISTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Malta must act now to bring science within everyone’s reach, raise the next generation of problem solvers, support Maltese research at every level, and invest in RD&I for a high-value sustainable economy. The Malta Chamber of Scientists is concerned that science is not being given its due importance in Malta. This document outlines an inclusive vision for a cohesive science policy that will impact positively across the Maltese economy and will help ensure its continued prosperity. By identifying key issues and proposing solutions, this document provides a blueprint for the future of science in Malta. Small economies must be forward-looking, taking advantage of new opportunities and identifying niche markets that give them an edge over larger competitors. The current Maltese economy is benefitting greatly from investment in its tailor-made legislation and information-technology infrastructure made since the early 1990s. This has helped make Malta an attractive jurisdiction for businesses in the information and communications technology sector. Future growth depends on similarly converting the new challenges arising from climate change, from the shift to a globalised electronic economy, and from the emergence of new technologies, into new opportunities. Underlying all these developments is an increasingly complex scientific and technological framework. Lack of forward-looking investment risks jeopardising the future of the Maltese economy. The low scientific performance of young adults following compulsory formal education results in a workforce ill-suited for the economy of the 21st century. Policy divorced from critical and rational scientific thinking creates unnecessary divisions and fuels unsustainable economic bubbles. The framework provided in this document is split into four vertical pillars.
Public engagement, the first pillar, is necessary to inspire an appreciation of the importance of science in different segments of the public, from schoolchildren through to business leaders and policymakers.
Education is a second pillar of our framework; we lament the poor grasp of science many school-leavers have, and provide ways in which this situation can be improved.
Research, our third pillar, is the corner-stone of science and a key part of the economic motor; without research, new scientific discoveries would not be made, and economic stagnation virtually assured.
National investment in the knowledge-based economy through targeted strategies, our fourth pillar, will counter the disincentives faced by Maltese researchers in public and private entities, and help encourage a stronger, knowledge-based economy resilient to the challenges of the future.
Tying these three pillars together are three cross-cutting horizontal targets. (i) An informed democracy, without which policymakers cannot be held to account and populist decisions taken rather than correct ones. (ii) Scientific excellence, through which Malta will not only be consuming technologies but also responsible for producing them. (iii) Economic growth results from a highly educated, scientifically-literate workforce with access to all the necessary mechanisms for creating ideas, nurturing them, and taking them from the laboratory to the marketplace.
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Informed Democracy
Support science for all in primary and secondary schools Unit for science education Centralised harmonised teaching resources Cooperation to take research from HEIs into schools
Public engagement as a pillar of all HEIs A coordinated public engagement strategy for the Maltese Islands Public engagement fund Celebrate international science days
Scientific Excellence Economic Growth
State-supported venture capital fund Tax credits for employing PhDs for RD&I VAT exemption for research expenses at HEIs Tax rebate on donations for scientific research
Invest in RD&I for a highvalue sustainable economy
Support Maltese research at every level
Raise the next generation of problem solvers
Bring science within everyone’s reach Comprehensive science fund PhD and postdoctoral funds Independent oversight for scientific funding Basic research a core part of Maltese science goals
Economy
Research
Education
Public Engagement
Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy
A BLUEPRINT FOR MALTESE SCIENCE POLICY
Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy
PILLAR 1: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Bring science within everyone’s reach. The number of STEM graduates around Europe has remained level for a decade while jobs have increased. Despite this, a recent report commissioned by the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) showed that less than half of the Maltese public is interested in science. As a result, Malta lags behind the EU average in science education. In the Trends in International Maths and Science Survey (TIMSS) in 2011 Malta ranked towards the very bottom of participating EU countries. This situation highlights a pressing need to bring research closer to the public, and make it more accessible, interesting, and fun. Researchers should be discussed and featured on local media more often. Public engagement within a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework is vital to improve science awareness and develop informed opinions, increase student uptake of STEM careers for high-level jobs, stimulate Malta’s socio-economic wellbeing, and enhance the transferable skills of current researchers. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 1.1
INCORPORATE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AS A PILLAR OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
We call for public engagement to be incorporated into all higher education institutions (HEIs). Academics and staff members should be credited and rewarded for public engagement activities. Public engagement should be one possible career path for academics; others include administrative, teaching, and research work. Further initiatives should be introduced following a study on how best to empower HEIs to perform Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) according to EU Horizon 2020 definitions. 1.2
DESIGN A COORDINATED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE MALTESE ISLANDS
We call for a working group to be set up that includes all stakeholders that are already communicating science to various sectors of the Maltese public. This group should help coordinate efforts in order to maximise reach and effectiveness. By showing that science can be fun, and emphasising a shift in towards experience-driven learning, a coordinated public engagement strategy will cause a positive change in public perception and understanding of science. Financial support should be provided for this working group to evaluate all current science communication activities in Malta, and to develop a public engagement strategy for the Maltese Islands. 1.3
ESTABLISH A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FUND
We call for a fund to be established to support various public engagement activities in Malta. The fund should empower students, educators, researchers, and other stakeholders to perform small- and large-scale science communication activities. This fund should be set up such that small-scale activities are not in competition with larger ones. 1.4
CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE DAYS
We call for the continued establishment of large-scale science activities as a form of informal education for various sectors of the public. Science festivals have been shown to attract large audiences in Malta, being an effective way to engage the public. We suggest that Malta celebrate the UNESCO “World Science Day for Peace and Development” every 10th of November, in addition to the highly successful European Commission Researchers’ Night that takes place on the last Friday of September. Hosting events in the Inner Harbour Area of Malta as well as in Gozo will aid science uptake.
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Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy
PILLAR 2: EDUCATION
Raise the next generation of problem solvers. Science has in recent years taken on new importance internationally. In Malta we have seen the establishment of cutting-edge industries whose growth depends on hiring ever more science graduates. For Malta to take advantage of these opportunities, science educators at all levels need increased support from the Ministry of Education and Employment as well as from higher education institutions (HEIs) and other key stakeholders in industry and government. Centralised resources will act as conduit through which both science educators and students become more engaged, ensure that all students have access to excellent science education, and enrich all aspects of the educational process. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1
SUPPORT SCIENCE FOR ALL IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
We call for increased support to be granted to schools in terms of laboratory equipment, as well as organisational support for laboratory visits to industry and research-based institutions. Ensuring that all school students have access to an excellent science education will improve school-leavers’ access to the science and technology job market throughout and result in increased upward social mobility. 2.2
FOUND A RESOURCE UNIT FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION
We call for the setting up of a resource unit for science education through which both educators and students could be better supported. This unit should be responsible for coordinating career guidance visits by professional scientists as well as the myriad of science demonstration activities currently taking place in an ad hoc manner. It should work to enrich the body of knowledge science educators currently have access to. Annual continuous professional development courses should be held to expose educators to new teaching techniques as well as new discoveries in science, with the aim of bringing these to the classroom. These courses should additionally serve as a conduit through which educators would be able to voice issues that are facing science on a national level. 2.3
ESTABLISH A WEBSITE WITH HARMONISED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
We call for the establishment of a centralised web-based resource for science educators to be provided to science educators nationally in order to reinforce and harmonise resources. Teaching of science subjects benefits greatly from material that does not clearly feature in the syllabus. This can range from in-class demonstrations to additional material such as video features and extracurricular work for interested students. This resource should provide a forum in which science educators can share their experiences and communicate with the entire community of Maltese science educators. 2.4
COOPERATE TO TAKE RESEARCH FROM HEIS INTO SCHOOLS
We call for the establishment of a framework that brings new research, active scientists, and industry experts into schools. Following the success of the Teen Science CafĂŠ pilot programme this initiative should be scaled up to the national level, with the possibility of every school taking part. Taking scientists to schools will complement activities taking place at the Esplora Science Centre. Bringing students in touch with modern discoveries will pique their scientific curiosity and help them make better-informed decisions about their future.
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Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy
PILLAR 3: RESEARCH
Support Maltese research at every level. Existing national programmes for funding PhD research are not internationally competitive. Maltese research activity is hampered by the challenge of attracting promising international students or even keeping the best local graduates. Since Malta does not yet have a well-established research tradition with clearly defined and highly developed research lines, any attempt at specifying a specialisation strategy is premature and leads to further problems. Whereas science thrives when decisions are made with complete autonomy, the scientific community in Malta is small enough that selection and review mechanisms are bound to fail. In part because of this, Malta lags behind in the key research, development, science, and technology indicators. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1
SET UP A COMPREHENSIVE SCIENCE FUND
We call for national funds for research, development, and innovation (RD&I) to be made available to fund excellence in every area of science. We also call for a long-term approach to be adopted to RD&I, with funds being made available at every technology-readiness level from basic research through to commercialisation of technologies, and disbursed on the basis of comprehensive external peer-review. 3.2
ESTABLISH A PROGRAMME FOR PHD AND POSTDOCTORAL FUNDS
We call for the establishment of a programme for funding PhD-level studies across the sciences. Such a programme must be well-funded, promising a fair level of remuneration to the student as well as adequate levels of funding for equipment; bottom-up, open to excellent science across the board and not exclusively in predefined thematic areas; and idea-oriented, allowing researchers in Malta to head-hunt the best talent from around the world. To strengthen existing commitment to post-doctoral research we call for a post-doctoral fund to be set up to import into Malta top talent from European and other countries with internationally-competitive salaries, planting the seeds for tomorrow’s discoveries in Malta. 3.3
ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT BODY OVERSEEING SCIENTIFIC FUNDING
We call for the setting up of a national body liaising with international organisations that facilitate international peer review. Such a body would oversee the selection process of funds across the board and monitor the effectiveness of Malta’s investment in RD&I. 3.4
MAKE BASIC RESEARCH A CORE PART OF MALTESE SCIENCE GOALS
We call for a renewed mission statement to be made for Maltese science, emphasising the importance of scientific discovery and prioritising the development of scientific excellence in Maltese research institutions. Scientific funding can no longer be restricted to developing technologies with short-term commercial prospects. Scientific research at a very early stage, even when divorced from the realities of the marketplace, must be placed on an equal footing and given its due importance.
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Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy
PILLAR 4: ECONOMY
Invest in RD&I for a high-value sustainable economy. The level of tertiary and post-graduate education in Malta is still lower than the average across the European Union. This issue cannot be resolved in a vacuum—encouraging the creation of high-level employment is a necessary first step. Aside from higher-quality employment and a stronger knowledge base, research, development, and innovation (RD&I) conducted at higher education institutions (HEIs) benefits the economy through diversification and by setting the stage for new discoveries and new technologies; it should not be subject to added taxation. A national research fund should not be responsible for identifying areas ripe for exploitation and which can be commercialised. Nevertheless, the state should greatly facilitate taking research from the laboratory to the market. Donations from individuals and corporations intended for scientific research should be offset against tax rebates. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1
SET UP A STATE-SUPPORTED VENTURE CAPITAL FUND
We call for the setting up of a state-supported venture capital fund that lowers the risk for private investors, magnifies their investment capacity, and encourages them to invest in taking Maltese research to the marketplace. This scheme, which could leverage funds from the recently announced Malta Development Bank, should work in collaboration with the Individual Investor Programme of the Government in Malta as well as the numerous entrepreneurfriendly measures adopted by several public and private entities. 4.2
ESTABLISH A TAX CREDIT PROGRAMME FOR EMPLOYING PHDS FOR RD&I
We call for the creation of incentives to be granted to small or medium research-oriented enterprises. A minimum of 150% of the salary paid to personnel with a MQF level of 8 employed to perform RD&I activities should made available to qualifying enterprises in the form of tax credits. This will encourage Maltese enterprises to invest and engage in high-level RD&I and encourage science and engineering students to pursue post-graduate studies leading to a PhD. 4.3
EXEMPT RESEARCH EXPENDITURE AT HEIS FROM VAT OBLIGATIONS
We call for a tax-exempt status to be applied to equipment and consumables necessary for research conducted at HEIs. Maltese RD&I is already at a disadvantage because of chronic under-funding and increased expenses incurred because of Malta’s remote location. Equipment and consumables purchased strictly for research purposes should be exempt from value-added taxation. 4.4
INCENTIVISE DONATIONS FOR RESEARCH BY GIVING TAX REBATES
We call for incentives to be put in place to encourage larger donations for scientific research. By significantly lowering the costs incurred in donating for research, it is expected that a larger number of high net-worth individuals will choose to support to scientific research, and more corporations will introduce such measures as part of their corporate responsibility strategy.
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Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy
GOALS FOR 2020 INFORMED DEMOCRACY
Increase total instruction time dedicated to science at primary-school level to above the international average, and aim to rank in the top 50% in TIMSS with a mean science score above the international average.
Increase level of people reporting an interest in science from the current 49.8% to at least 75%.
Hold two to three large-scale science festivals annually as well as ongoing small-scale events held throughout the year and targeted at multiple audiences.
Create an organised community bringing together all science educators and communicators.
SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE
Increase research output as quantified by number of publications by a factor of 2, with a similar increase in the number of outputs published in high-impact journals.
Raise the number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates and doctorate-holders to above the EU28 average.
Have a majority of local scientists conducting research as part of international consortia.
Place basic science on the list of national priority areas.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Invest at least 3% of GDP, originating from mixed sources (Government, industry, and civil society) in RD&I.
Raise at least €1M annually in funding for RD&I offset against taxes from corporations and private individuals.
Have 12% of local population working in the science and technology industry.
Set up a favourable ecosystem for identifying and financing very early stage opportunities with a technology readiness level less than TRL4 as defined by the European Commission.
ABOUT THE MALTA CHAMBER OF SCIENTISTS The Malta Chamber of Scientists is a learned society representing Maltese scientists working in various sectors of the economy. Further information about the Malta Chamber of Scientists may be found at http://www.mcs.org.mt/. This document has been issued by the Science Policy Office of the Chamber. Requests for further information, comments, and queries should be sent to policy@mcs.org.mt. This document was authored by Dr André Xuereb, Science Policy Officer of the Malta Chamber of Scientists, together with Dr Edward Duca and Dr Jackson Said. HOW TO CITE THIS GREEN PAPER The Malta Chamber of Scientists, Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy Green Paper (2016).
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Science Policy in Malta: The Knowledge Economy
APPENDIX: KEY REFERENCE MATERIAL All online sources in the list below were retrieved and verified to be publicly available on the 31st of August, 2016. The Malta Chamber of Scientists is not responsible for the continued availability of these documents, and one or more may not be available at the time of reading. The division of the reference list according to the four pillars is not absolute and is merely meant to help guide the interested reader. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT [1] Research Councils UK, Inspiration to engage: Concordat for engaging the public with research (2013). Available online: http://goo.gl/auNoQz [2] The Malta Council for Science and Technology, Perception and Attitudes towards Science (2014). Available online: http://goo.gl/cFDLic EDUCATION [3] Ministry for Education and Employment, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2011: Malta Report (2013). Available online: http://goo.gl/sbRMSW [4] The Malta Council for Science and Technology, Perception and Attitudes towards Science (2014). Available online: http://goo.gl/cFDLic RESEARCH [5] The European Commission, Research and Innovation performance in the EU: Malta (2014). Available online: http://goo.gl/T2MbBn [6] The European Commission, Europe 2020 indicators - research and development (2016). Available online: http://goo.gl/9wvcBT ECONOMY [7] James A. Brander, Qianqian Du, and Thomas F. Hellman, The effects of government-sponsored venture capital: International evidence (2010). Available online: http://goo.gl/GZjpFG [8] Deloitte, 2015 Global Survey of R&D Incentives (2015). Available online: http://goo.gl/8SLOLT
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