Undeniably the application of research and development to business operations is critical for the Maltese economy to retain and improve its position in attracting specific niches of activities that have the potential to create high value added activities and employment.
Malta Enterprise provides a comprehensive incentive package with the aim of increasing the amount of R&D activities in Malta. The incentives target activities from the preparation to undertake such projects to post-implementation thus closing the cycle between the generation of a new idea and its realization as a new product on the market.
Pre-Research & Development
It is a well known fact that R&D initiatives are associated with high risk and therefore it is advisable that enterprises undertake pre-R&D studies to determine that the key elements of the proposed research project are based on sound principals prior to investing heavily. Malta Enterprise makes available funding to support such studies.
Available Incentives
Technical Feasibility Studies
Part-financing for enterprises when carrying out feasibility studies in preparation for investments in Industrial Research and Experimental Development projects.
Loan of Highly Qualified Experts
Part financing of the costs directly related to the secondment of highly qualified personnel engaged to work specifically on R&D&I projects. Through such engagements SMEs can access new knowledge and increase their innovation capabilities.
Business Advisory Services
Subsidised consultancy to support a business’s particular needs for development.
Research & Development
Engaging in high value-adding activities would be of no benefit to the Maltese economy unless such activities are sustained by ongoing research, innovation, and technological development. In order to keep increasing the added value of Maltese industry Malta Enterprise makes available a number of incentives to encourage research and development in enterprises.
Available Incentives
Industrial Research
Tax credits are available for planned research aimed at the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services to improve existing products, processes or services. Additional support is provided to enterprises participating in collaborative projects with other industry partners or research organisations.
Experimental Development
Tax credits are also available for projects that lead to the acquiring, combining, shaping and using of existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills for the purpose of producing plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or improved products, processes or services. Additional support is provided to enterprises participating in collaborative projects with other industry partners or research organisations.
ERDF R&D Grants
A competitive scheme providing grants to enterprises carrying out Research & Development activities leading to the development of new or significantly improved products, processes or services.
Post-Research & Development
The registration of intellectual property can be a lengthy and expensive process and as a result companies and individuals stop short of protecting their ideas. To encourage companies and individuals take that final step, Malta Enterprise makes available incentives to make the most of intellectual property.
Available Incentives
Registration for Intellectual Property
Intellectual property (IP) rights are valuable assets for your business - possibly among the most important it possesses. Tax credits for SMEs when obtaining and validating patents and other intellectual property rights.
Royalty Income from Patents
An initiative to encourage researchers to exploit intellectual property through the licensing of patented knowledge. The incentive gives fiscal benefits to individuals and enterprises owning the rights to patented intellectual property and receiving income in the form of royalties.
Business Advisory Services
Subsidised consultancy to support a business’s particular needs for development.