April 11, 2012

The Cross-border Collaborative R&D Grant Scheme

The Collaborative R&D Grant Scheme, which is being administered by Malta Enterprise, supports Maltese enterprises that carry out cross-border industrial research or experimental development projects in collaboration with other enterprises.

The cross-border project should lead to the development of innovative products, processes and services based on advanced technologies. For projects to be funded, they must be endorsed by the EUREKA network or approved through the Eurostars Joint Programme.

EUREKA is an intergovernmental network launched in 1985, to support market-oriented R&D and innovation projects across all technological sectors.
The Eurostars Joint Programme is a European innovation programme managed by EUREKA. Its purpose is to provide funding for market-oriented research and development with the active participation of Research and Development performing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (R&D-performing SMEs). Eurostars is a joint initiative between EUREKA and the EU Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

Support under the Collaborative R&D Grant Scheme is provided through refunds that part-finance pre-approved costs. Such costs may include: personal costs (wages) of researchers and technicians; the depreciation costs of new instruments and equipment; the costs of material, supplies and similar products, bought specifically for the research project; as well as costs incurred for the procurement of technical knowledge and acquisition of patented knowledge and technology.