Euro-Mediterranean Initiative for Technology and Innovation Euro Med

Euro-Mediterranean Initiative for Technology and Innovation Euro. Med. ITI is a Malta-Led European Initiative aimed to engage European and Mediterranean Businesses and Applied R&D Entities for the development, customisation and deployment of technologies with a special relevance to the Mediterranean Region

Stakeholders Private Sector (Business Driven): § European industry, primarily SMEs § Industry in the Mediterranean non-EU countries § Industry bodies (National Associations, European Technology Platforms, etc. ) Research and Innovation Entities: § Applied Research Institutes § Universities and Academic Entities Political: § Government of Malta § Other national governments within the EU and non-EU Mediterranean states § The European Union

Alignment with EU Policy Lisbon Strategy: “… launching European technological initiatives, between private enterprises, research institutes, the financial world and regulatory authorities …” and “… developing research infrastructures of European interest …” Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: “… to strengthen scientific research capacity and development, contribute to the training of scientific and technical staff, and promote participation in joint research projects based on the creation of scientific networks …” European Institute of Technology: Euro. Med. ITI has a complementary function to the proposed EIT, facilitating the extension of the ERA and the uptake of European Technologies in the Mediterranean Region. A European “Technology Transfer" Platform: European Technology Platforms aim at delivery of sector-specific innovation whereas Euro. Med. ITI concentrates on its dissemination in the Mediterranean. Models are similar and complementary.

Opportunity & Challenge • Establishment of a Free Trade Area including 35 EMP states with a market of 600 -800 people. • Diversity of customs, cultures, economic status and political realities poses a challenge to industry, primarily to SMEs. • The existing technology gap between North and South can be reduced by cultivating innovation through technology transfer and competence building. • Through collaborative partner networks spanning the Euro. Mediterranean space Euro. Med. ITI will aim to: § Provide access to Mediterranean market intelligence; § Promote the transfer, customisation and development of relevant technologies, and enable the prototyping and testing of the pertinent products and services; § Facilitate dissemination and uptake in the region. • This will lead to a sustainable increase in business and innovation activities in the region.

Why Malta? • Malta Government intent on promoting Research and Innovation. • Malta a historic and natural hub between Europe and North Africa and committed to support mutually beneficial initiatives. • This regional role takes a new dimension for Malta as a new EU member state. • Malta is a microcosmic representation of larger infrastructures, allowing new technologies to be deployed and tested within a controlled, live environment representative of the Region. • Malta’s small internal market inherently gives rise to a strongly export oriented outlook.

Focus • Technology Sectors: § § § Water and Environmental Technologies Renewable Energies Information and Communication Technology Marine Technologies Technology niches with special relevance to the region (e. g. certain applications within Health Care & Biotechnology, Mediterranean Agronomy, Pharmaceuticals, etc. ) • All Mediterranean partner countries with initial focus on: § § Tunisia Libya Egypt Others as relevant project opportunities present themselves

Market Positioning • Euro. Med. ITI will seek to collaborate with other European and national initiatives, networks and entities with common or parallel goals. • In particular it will seek out complementarities with these entities in order to fill gaps in the requirements of the market. • Inputs from interested stakeholders are welcome, and will lead to a permanent, sustainable positioning process, jointly with the active partners involved.

Proposed Structure Euro. Med. ITI Advisory Council Projects • Relevant to Med. • Well Defined • Clear Business Plan Education, Training, Knowledge Dissemination Regional Relevance EMINT Ltd. Support Platform Networks of Competence • Water & Environment • Renewable Energy • ICT • Maritime • etc

Projects • Business driven • Well defined, for profit, clear business plan • Addressing specific technology opportunities in the region • Involving a network of partners, led by a project driver • Could entail formation of start-up company (incubation support) • Could be developed, prototyped and tested in Malta for dissemination to region

Project Examples • Mobile Stormwater Treatment Plant • Increased Energy Efficiency, Waste Energy Recovery and Renewable Energy for Industrial Applications • Satellite Backhauled Broadband Wireless Network providing Nomadic Hotspots for Minimum Infrastructure Areas • Marine micro-algae development for Aquaculture Feed and extraction of high value compounds for health, bio-fuel, food, etc.

Education, Training and Knowledge Dissemination • Regional relevance • Education / Training Topics Technology related Ø Innovation, entrepreneurship, management, etc. Ø Cross-Cultural Education (e. g. Doing business in North Africa) Ø Relevant EU legislation Ø • Conferences, workshops, etc.

Networks of Competence • Gradually build a core per sector capable of providing technical support to projects • Regional relevance, complementary to Regional and European entities • Implementation strategy to be developed jointly with stakeholders based on experience from projects • Must maintain strong links international academic and R&D entities and individuals (hence networks)

Support and Management Platform: Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Network for Technology (EMINT) Ltd. • Non-profit Limited Liability Company, initially owned by Maltese Government, but open for other partners (Governments, Institutions, Business Associations, …) • Sole Legal Entity advancing Euro. Med. ITI • Initially a small core of 9 -12 persons, gradually growing to a multinational / multicultural group • Closely associated with R&D, Academic, Industrial partners for ideas and knowledge transfer • Financing through Institutional and Private Entities, National & EU funding, Membership Fees, Service Fees

EMINT Ltd: Functions • Coordination, Facilitation and Support of: § Projects; § Education, Training & Knowledge Dissemination; and § Networks of Competence • Development of Market Knowledge of Med Region • Setting up and maintenance of Partner Network § Businesses and Research Entities • Business Development • Financing of Euro. Med. ITI (EMINT, Projects, Training, etc. ) • Communication and third party interaction: § EU, governments, businesses, research entities, business organisations, etc. § In Europe and the Mediterranean • Public Relations

Financing • Seed grants from Maltese Government and EU for first years of operation • Ongoing financing: § Research funds from EU and national government R&D programmes § Service fees from industry § Private investment (bank loans, private equity, VC´s, technology based industries with Med targets, …) § Other instruments (European Neighbourhood Policy, European Investment Bank, World Bank, Islamic Bank, …) • Goal: self-financing within 5 -10 years

Current Main Partners • Malta Council for Science & Technology – (leading driver) • Malta Enterprise • Fraunhofer Institutes (Germany) • CRP Henri Tudor (Luxembourg) • VTT (Finland) Project Management: • CREATECH (Malta) • Emphasys Gmb. H (Germany) The initiative is open for other research, business and financial partners.

Time Scale Phase 1: Nov. 2005 to June 2006 § Preliminary work carried out to define structure and function, and to initiate specific processes to demonstrate viability and visibility of the concept. § Business Proposal submitted to Maltese Government. Phase 2: July 2006 § Creation of EMINT Ltd. and official launch of initiative. § Development of Projects and Training activities. § Formalising of current partnerships and setting up of new ones. § Creation of Partner Networks – Business and Research / European and Regional. § Communication and marketing.