PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR THE ECONOMY, ENTERPRISE AND STRATEGIC PROJECTS: New Smiro Qualitas facility in Malta further strengthens the startup ecosystem

The new facility of Smiro Qualitas, a startup in the pharmaceutical sector, has been inaugurated at the Kordin Business Incubation Centre (KBIC), marking another step forward in building a stronger startup ecosystem in Malta.

Present for the inauguration were the Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri, together with Malta Enterprise CEO George Gregory. Minister Schembri emphasised that Malta's economic progress is directly tied to its people. He highlighted that the Maltese economy continues to stand out for its resilience and innovation, as confirmed by this year's EY Survey as well as the Financial Times' Greenfield FDI Performance Index, which noted Malta's strong performance.

Minister Silvio Schembri stated that, “Startups like Smiro Qualitas represent the growth and future of our country. Thanks to them, our economy keeps moving forward, while they reflect our vision and the confidence investors place in us."

Malta Enterprise CEO George Gregory added, “The launch of Smiro Qualitas in Malta reflects our commitment to strengthening high-quality industries. This reinforces Malta's position as a jurisdiction that supports our long-term vision for sustainable, innovation-driven growth."

Smiro Qualitas Director Robert Smith spoke about how this marks the next chapter for the company as it works to bring new products to patients. “The opening of our office in Malta provides our clients with a unique base from which to conduct clinical trials in Malta, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, for the benefit of patients."

Startups in Malta are finding more opportunities and support to grow through funding schemes such as Business Start, MicroInvest and Start-up Finance. In addition, the Government is strengthening the innovation ecosystem through initiatives such as the Digital Innovation Hub, which supports startups in creating new technologies and developing solutions through High Performance Computing (HPC). This infrastructure is made accessible to local researchers, particularly in areas such as AI-driven medical research.

All these initiatives form part of Malta Vision 2050, which aims to shape a national economy built on skills, research and future technologies.

High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Malta, Victoria Busby, was also in attendance for the opening.

Photo (MEEP)