PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND PUBLIC CLEANLINESS AND THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR YOUTHS, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Call for research and innovation projects in energy and water launched

€2m already invested in 15 collaborative projects

The Environment and Energy Ministry together with the Parliamentary Secretariat for Research and Innovation has opened the sixth call of the Energy and Water Agency’s (EWA) Research and Innovation (R&I) Scheme, a national grant programme designed to support collaborative research addressing Malta’s most pressing energy and water challenges.

Since its launch in 2020, the scheme has already invested more than €2 million on 15 projects, delivering tangible solutions aligned with Malta’s sustainability goals.

This was announced by Minister Miriam Dalli and Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti during an event held at Abertax.  Abertax has been an active partner in past calls, delivering innovative solutions in energy and water through projects carried out in collaboration with the University of Malta.

Minister Dalli praised the scheme’s impact so far and added “Through this scheme, we have enabled researchers and innovators to turn ideas into real-world solutions, from improving tap water quality to developing offshore renewable energy and finding second-life uses for electric vehicle batteries. With €2 million already invested in 15 projects, the scheme has supported a wide range of beneficiaries, all addressing Malta’s current needs and policy priorities in climate adaptation, water efficiency, and sustainable operations. We are not just funding research, we are strengthening Malta’s research ecosystem and fostering collaboration to address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges."

The sixth call opened today, with a total budget of €400,000 available for this year’s round and will remain open until 26 September 2025. Eligible projects must address one of six priority areas identified for their relevance to Malta’s current needs, including greywater reuse systems, more efficient agricultural irrigation, renewable energy integration, smart systems for leakage detection, and decarbonisation technologies in buildings.

Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti welcomed the launch of the sixth call and stated “This scheme continues to show how innovation, supported by targeted investment, can generate solutions that benefit our society and economy. By empowering researchers and young innovators to work together, we are investing in Malta’s future competitiveness and sustainability.”

The scheme forms part of the RINEW Platform, which promotes research-driven solutions while encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector. Over time, the scheme has evolved to support applicants better, increasing the maximum grant per project, extending the timeframe to allow for more advanced prototypes, and requiring all proposals to come from consortia.

Manuel Sapiano, CEO of the Energy and Water Agency highlighted the growing demand for the scheme, “Every year we see more interest in this scheme, which reflects the determination of Malta’s research community. It’s encouraging to see people from different sectors teaming up and tackling challenges together, and we’re proud that the Agency can help make these collaborations a reality”,

At the launch, Abertax, a previous participant in the scheme, showcased the results achieved through projects funded under earlier calls, including ReUse, which developed innovative processes for testing and repurposing discarded EV batteries, and PvPro, which created a renewable-based water heating and energy management system. Both projects were carried out in collaboration with the University of Malta.

The Energy and Water Agency also announced that a separate announcement on the results of the fifth call will be made shortly.

Full details of the sixth call, including the Rules for Participation, are available on the Energy and Water Agency website: https://energywateragency.gov.mt/. Prospective applicants may also contact the Agency directly at rni-energywateragency@gov.mt.