Realising a Thriving Maltese Biotechnology Industry by 2015
Foresight –
systematic, participatory, future intelligence gathering and
medium-to long-term vision building process aimed at present
day decisions and mobilising joint actions.
Bottom up approach
 eFORESEE stands for Exchange of FOresight Relevant Experiences for
Small European and Enlargement countries
 Aim: help smaller economies deal with structural changes they will be faced
with following accession.
 Jan 2002 - Dec 2003 FP5 STRATA programme
 Participants - Malta Cyprus Estonia
 Malta Pilots –
 Information Communication Technology and Education
 Marine science
 Biotechnology sector
Core Team:
Professor Alex Felice – champion
Dorita Galea – managing secretary
Dr. J. Cassingena Harper - MCST
Ms. Sharon DeMarco – MCST
Time horizon of 11 years, project completed in 7 months
Objective : to produce a plan to develop the fledgling Maltese biotechnology
industry into a core sector of the Maltese economy by 2015 through a
collaborative venture between academic institutions, the public sector and private
enterprises
Definition of Biotechnology:
‘Biotechnology means any technology application that uses biological systems,
living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products and processes
for specific use’
Convention on Biodiversity (UN, 1992)
Main Aims
 To create a national dialogue including academia, public and private sector
and society.
 To air opinions and share vision
 Create networks and working partnerships
 Create a national effort to boost the biotechnology sector
 Provide an appropriate direction and support for publicly funded research
Methodologies
Secondary Research: laws, policy documents, scientific papers, NSO data, reports
e.g. Malta Scoreboard
Primary Research: Questionnaires, Interviews, Round Table Discussions
Stakeholder Mapping
 Business/Trade directories
 Co-nomination
 Automatic Registration onto website
Raising Awareness
 Given its participative and action-orientations, foresight needs to be visible
 Various media:
 Meetings, conferences, forums, etc
 Newsletters, newspapers, TV and radio, internet
 Training and manuals
 Tools and techniques in the foresight process can themselves be used to raise
awareness
 Continuing activity
Launching seminar
 Two high profile ministers –ensure government rubber stamp
 Scientist from a major European Biotechnology firm: Dr. Beatrice Leigh
Director Technology Operations, GlaxoSmithKline, UK
 28th July 2003
 Advertised in Times of Malta, University weekly news, Email Government
departments, Department of Health management personnel
 Sponsored by BOV and British council.
All newspapers and TV news bulletins of the day featured the Biotechnology
foresight pilot
Times of Malta Editorial – 29th August 2003 ‘Coming of age of biotechnology’
BIOTECHNOLOGY PILOT CORE GROUP
BIOTECHNOLOGY PANEL ‘A’
Human Health
Pharmaceutical Industry (74)
BIOTECHNOLOGY PANEL ‘B’
•Agro-food Industry,
Aquaculture
Environmental Biotechnology
(54)
EDUCATION
FINANCIAL
SERVICE
LEGAL & ETHICAL
(80)
 Which factors influence achievement within such an industry? These
factors could be social, technological, educational, economic,
environmental, political and/or of ethical values (STEEEPV).
 What infrastructure does Malta need in order to support and develop a
thriving biotechnology industry by 2015?
 What areas within biotechnology need to be developed to sustain successful
research and development programmes and business enterprises in Malta?
Participation
High level ownership and government rubber stamp ensured service industry cooperative
Panel A members showed skeptism and were reluctant to attend panel meeting
Panel B members showed enthusiasm and continuous encouragement throughout
pilot
Participation in interviews good
Internet forum was not so successful
Website contained :
Minutes of panel meetings
Reports of meetings, including the launching seminar
Opinions
Strategic documents
Recommended Action Lines
 Resource Base
 Undergraduate education
 Continuous education
 Exchange of scientist
 Forum for students – interdisciplinary discussion
 Interdisciplinary networks
 Capacity building (structure funds)
 European Investment Fund for startups and expansions
 Measures to avoid brain drain and attract scientists
 Post Graduate Programme of studies
 Inventory of Capabilities and Inventory of Laboratories
 Research
 National Research Programme
 Biotechnology Institute
 Networking of Biotechnology industry management
 Legal and Ethical Competence
 Public Education
 Interdisciplinary networks – to have research and development
 Exploitation of Intellectual Property
 University to encourage commercialisation of research
 Strong IP system incentive for RTDI.
 Encourage movement between academia and industry
 Aid to Existing Biotechnology Companies
 To improve standards, expand, create contacts, carry out waste
management
 Infrastructure
 Biotechnology Centre
 Oversight of Science and Technology
 Administration bureaucracy uprooted
 Strategic
 Political responsibility for Science and Technology
 Services
 ME to cater office specifically to needs of Biotechnology industry
 Improve customs law and efficiency
R&D Questionnaire Survey
 10 returned (33%)
 3 government institutions
 1 non-government organisation
 6 private enterprises
government institutions
 Basic research with some product/process development
 R&D funding and staff is not sufficient
 Keen on ERA and 6th Framework project
non-government institutions
 Applied research from in-house funding
 Keen on ERA and 6th Framework project
Private enterprises
 Half carry no biotechnology R&D, other half carry extensive R&D
projects
 Funds from enterprise or from IPSE
 Not clear on opportunities offered by ERA and 6th framework project
The vision for 2015
Education and Training
• Reformed in school science education to provide for “Science literacy for all”
• Increased scope of “Life Science” teaching in undergraduate programmes.
• Train research scientists in pure biological science and provide for
specialization at post graduate levels – European mobility programmes can
be utilised for this purpose.
• Expanded opportunities for research based graduate education and postgraduate training to satisfy needs for Life science Ph.Ds – Graduate School
in Life Science and Biotechnology.
Funding for Research and Development
• Increased budgets of tertiary level institutions for research and development
work.
• Established of a National Programme for Scientific Research, Technological
Development and Innovation at 3% of GDP with participation of academic,
public an private organisations (Public : Private contributions at 1:2).
• Increased participation of private sector in funding research (60% of
National spending).
• Corporate Academy: linking academic research with business development.
• Increased participation in EU framework and other R&D programmes.
Research and Development Capability
 Promotion of research and entrepreneurial culture among graduates.
 Increased number and integration of well equipped research laboratories.
 Provide mechanisms for funding by peer review and oversight of science and
technology.
Biotechnology Business Development
 Efficient business-friendly infra-structure.
 Effective Ethical and Legal framework.
 Sound protection of intellectual property.
 Venture capital and other investment tools