04 Dec Malta to conquer space
Malta has a new aerospace sector, which will be launched with the backing of a new 2-million-euro national fund.
As pointed out by the undersecretary for innovation Silvio Schembri, this is a new adventure with a decidedly “modest” start that could, however, be a first step towards the development of new “conquests“.
The fund, which will be operational between 2018 and 2022, was set up with the aim of developing data collection projects from satellites that observe planet Earth. The national initiative is also supported by the European Space Agency, which will offer grants for 20-month research projects based on annual competitions.
According to Schembri, the fund will support the competitiveness of the Maltese industry, stimulating innovation and research while, at the same time, promoting international cooperation. Furthermore, in order to stimulate the interest of young students, there will also be an aerospace educational program among the activities supported by the fund.