The COVID-19 R&D Fund

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation and its impact on the local economy, the Malta Council for Science and Technology and the Malta Enterprise Corporation have issued a call for proposals aimed for applicants who provide research on innovative and/or improved approaches on current and/or future infectious disease prevention, control and spread containment.  The total amount of funding allocated is a maximum Euro 5.3 million and will be awarded in the form of cash grants. 

Applicable research

The research should address:

  • Medical products and treatments;
  • Data collection to improve approaches with regards to current and future infectious disease prevention; or
  • The trajectory of the pandemic.

Eligible undertakings

The applicant must be:

  • A partnership constituted under the Companies Act;
  • A body of persons incorporated or registered outside Malta or registered as an overseas company in accordance with the Companies Act;
  • Duly registered as a co-operative society under the Co-operative Societies Act;
  • Self-employed registered with Jobsplus;
  • NGO’s;
  • A professional person; or
  • Non-profit entities.

Start-up applicants are required to provide financial projections for three years by a certified public accountant or auditor including:

  • An income statement;
  • A statement of cash flow; and  
  • A statement of financial position.

Eligible projects

Eligible projects, including those having received a COVID-19 specific Seal of Excellence, are projects that commenced on or after 1st February 2020 but not later than 31st December 2020. The duration of the project should not exceed eighteen months.

Maximum Aid Intensity

The aided part of the research and development project shall completely fall within one or more of the following categories as defined in Section 1.4 of the National Rules for Participation:

  1. Fundamental research;
  2. Industrial research; or
  3. Experimental development.

The maximum levels of assistance that may be provided under this fund are shown below.

Aid under this measure may be combined with support from other sources for the same eligible costs, provided the combined aid does not exceed the applicable aid intensities

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Double Funding

Aid under this measure may be combined with support from other sources for the same eligible costs, provided the combined aid does not exceed the applicable aid intensities

For more insight and support, please feel free to contact us on the below:

Vladimiro Comodini – Partner ([email protected])

Patrick Debattista – Senior Manager ([email protected])