Xjenza Malta is reinforcing Malta’s position as a hub for research, innovation and space development through record levels of investment, new funding opportunities, and a strong commitment to translating ideas into real-world impact.

Malta’s commitment to cross-sectoral research and innovation continues to deliver tangible investment and measurable results. This is being achieved through Xjenza Malta, the national research, innovation and space funding agency, which is responsible for implementing the country’s R&I and space policy initiatives. The agency coordinates national R&I and space strategies, manages programming efforts, and administers the public budget dedicated to these fields.

At the centre of this effort is FUSION, Malta’s national research and innovation portfolio. The government has allocated €7.5 million for 2026, representing a 20 per cent increase from the €6.3 million allocated in 2025. This steady growth aligns with the government’s pledge to double the annual FUSION budget, from €4.1 million in 2023 to €8.2 million by 2027, fulfilling a key commitment outlined in the electoral manifesto. FUSION therefore represents a long-term investment in Malta’s capacity to transform innovative ideas into real-world solutions that benefit society, the economy and the environment.

The numbers speak for themselves. During 2025, Xjenza Malta issued several funding calls through the FUSION portfolio, attracting strong participation from across the research community. Researchers submitted funding requests worth €25 million, demonstrating growing confidence and interest in Malta’s research and innovation ecosystem. From these submissions, projects totalling close to €10 million were awarded financial support.

Projects approved under the FUSION 2025 portfolio received between €100,000 and €500,000 in funding, depending on their stage of development. This wide-ranging financial support enables researchers to advance their ideas from early-stage concepts to prototype testing and market-ready products, whether pursued individually or through collaborative consortia.

The consistently high demand for funding, reflected in the regular oversubscription of calls, highlights both the quality and ambition of Malta’s researchers. It also underscores the effectiveness of government policy in prioritising investment in R&I. Every euro invested in research contributes to the development of new technologies, supports high-quality job creation, and delivers practical solutions to real-world challenges, from advancing healthcare to promoting environmental sustainability.

As Malta continues to increase its investment in research and innovation, Xjenza Malta’s role remains pivotal, not only as a funding body but also as a catalyst for a culture of innovation. The results achieved to date reveal a vibrant and motivated research community that is ready to turn ideas into impact, ensuring that knowledge continues to drive national progress for the benefit of all Maltese citizens.