PRESS RELEASE BY THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR YOUTH, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Launch of the second European Space Agency PECS call for Malta for initiatives related to the Space sector

In a press conference, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti, together with Xjenza Malta and the European Space Agency (ESA), announced the launch of the second Plan for a European Cooperating State (PECS) call for Malta, an initiative that provides opportunities for research and development in the Space sector. This call is open to the local private and public sectors, as well as academic institutions.

The PECS is a five-year plan established by ESA and Xjenza Malta to address Malta's needs for a Space sector based on the country's national capabilities. This initiative allows local stakeholders to submit proposals for research projects in various Space-related sectors, including Space Upstream, Space Downstream, and Space Education.

The parliamentary secretary stated that: “PECS provides a platform where Maltese stakeholders can compete on a national level for ESA projects without facing competition from other European countries that have more experience. This helps lay the groundwork for a flourishing Space sector in our country."

Silvio Scerri, CEO of Xjenza Malta, added that: “ESA PECS encourages partnerships that offer opportunities for the local industry to grow, diversify, and influence Space Technology. This initiative allows local research teams to present proposals to work on ESA projects on an international scale."

Stephen Airey, Head of PECS at ESA, explained that: “The PECS scheme aims to develop Space-related competences in Malta, including education, research, and industrial development, while facilitating international cooperation. The scheme covers all topics related to Space, including the development of hardware and software for satellites, as well as the use of satellite data-based applications for sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and urban planning."

The call is open to researchers and operators from the private, public, and academic sectors. Applications can be submitted through the ESA Star platform. Full details about the call criteria are available on the ESA Star platform and the Xjenza Malta website.

This call will remain open until February 19, 2025, at 13:00. For more information, please contact the Space Unit at Xjenza Malta via email at space.xjenzamalta@gov.mt.