Geoghegan-Quinn: Malta ‘should leverage’ Structural Funds under H2020

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has urged Malta to exploit the EU’s Structural Funds, in addition to the new framework programme.

The European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science told the Sunday Times of Malta: “You need to access the big pot of money that there is in Structural Funds for research and innovation. That can help you to build the infrastructure, develop the hardware, buy equipment, establish a lab, and so on.”

Geoghegan-Quinn had argued for the retention of funding for research and innovation, believing it enables people to collaborate and work together.

“I argued very strongly not to demolish it. Even those countries that are particularly low in investment in research and innovation as a proportion of GDP actually made progress – perhaps it was only a little progress, but it was still progress. Ministers for research always say to me that the fact that the 3% target strengthens their hand when they go and talk to their ministers of finance when looking for money.”

In her keynote address last week at the Maltese Horizon 2020 launch event, Geoghegan-Quinn said: “Under the new Cohesion policy, EU member states and regions should develop Smart Specialisation Strategies that build on their particular strengths. This means that they will be betting on their most likely winners.

“Such a strategy will be a precondition to research and innovation funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds. Research and innovation must feature among the priorities of the Smart Specialisation Strategies and the partnership agreements that open up access to the huge funding opportunities of the Structural Funds.”

Malta will soon be presenting its National Research and Innovation Strategy 2020 to the European Commission.