Further to the approval by the European Commission of Malta’s €5.3million R&D scheme, on 23^rd April the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCAST) launched the ‘COVID-19 R&D Fund’. The Fund is a mechanism through which cash grants will be given to eligible applicants, i.e. public, academic and private entities, undertaking R&D projects with outcomes addressing innovative and/or improved approaches with regards to current and/or future infectious disease prevention, control and contain the spread and other antiviral relevant research.

The R&D project proposals should be novel and not correspond with ongoing or completed projects funded by other instruments, programmes or projects.

Eligible projects, including those projects having received a COVID-19 specific Seal of Excellence under the Horizon 2020 SME-instrument, are those projects that have started on or after 1 February 2020, but not later than 31 December 2020. The duration of the project should be a maximum of 18 months.

Successful proposals will see Maltese entities entering into a Grant Agreement with MCST and Malta Enterprise, the administrators of this incentive.

The Fund shall operate as an open call. Successful applications will be implemented as projects and will be awarded until all amounts in the Fund have been exhausted, or the duration of the incentive has elapsed, whichever is sooner.

The rules for participation for the COVID-19 R&D Fund may be found through the links hereunder (from MCST’s website). It has been announced that the call for applications will follow shortly through the publication of the Application Form and other relevant documentation.

National Rules COVID-19 Fund State Aid

National Rules COVID-19 Fund Non-State Aid

Should you have any queries or wish to discuss further, please send an email to covid@kpmg.com.mt.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.