Nanoforum - Nanotech Regulatory Document Archive

• Foundation for Science and Technology / Malta Council for Science and
Technology (MCST)
The MCST, which is linked to the Ministry for Transport, Communications and
Technology, brings together leading experts and personalities from academia and
the public and private sectors through a number of policy-oriented,
multisectoral networks focusing on national priorities including the water, energy and
marine sectors. The MCST is also responsible for providing an overall focus and
strategy for Malta's international relations in science and technology, in close cooperation
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The general national policy objectives in relation to science and technology are
"substainable development" and "integrated resource management" and the specific
sectoral S&T priorities defined are the following:
• Establishment and implementation of a National Information Technology
Strategy covering at least three main concerns: the telecommunications
infrastructure, the human resources requirements and the possible
identification of niche markets.
• Co-ordination of sea- and land-related activities (ranging from freeport and
ship repair activities to fishing and aquaculture and recreational activities
including tourism).
• Exploration of alternative, economically feasible, energy-saving and
renewable energy applications in order to reduce Malta's dependence on
foreign fuel supplies as well as negative environmental impacts. These
may range from direct solar heating to photovoltaics, from wind energy
to energy-saving buildings.
• Improvement of water production and water use through updated
scientific study and technological innovation.
• Setting up of a Remote Sensing Centre to develop scientific capabilities in
support of local and regional environmental decision-making, through natural
resources management, (land and marine) environmental management,
risk and environmental impact assessments.
• Development of the application of biotechnology for instance in the area
of medicinal technologies, human and comparative genomes, medicinal
and aromatic plants, as well as in the food industry and the production of
speciality biochemicals, including biofuels.
But the research priorities do not include nanotechnology (National Contact Point
(NCP) Malta - BORG Jonathan C).
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