More Than €1.3 Million In EU Funds For 2 New Innovative Projects At MCAST
More than €1.3 million in European funding has been allocated to two new strategic projects at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), aimed at expanding research infrastructure and creating new opportunities for students, researchers and businesses.
The projects were announced by the Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection, Keith Azzopardi Tanti, and the Minister for Education and Sport, Byron Camilleri.
The first initiative will establish Malta's first Single-Stage Light-Gas Gun Impact Testing Facility through a total investment of €855,500, including a €775,750 grant from European funds.
The facility will enable controlled high-velocity testing for sectors including aviation and aerospace, while providing researchers, academics and industry with access to advanced experimental infrastructure.
The second project will create a Metal Additive Manufacturing Research and Training Facility through an investment of approximately €676,000, of which €556,400 comes from European funding. The facility will support applied research, practical training, prototype development and collaboration with industry using advanced industrial-grade technologies.
Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti said the projects demonstrate how European funds can be transformed into practical investments that strengthen the country's future. He said the new facilities reflect Malta's ambition to build a modern economy driven by innovation, scientific research and the creation of added value.
He also thanked MCAST's management, researchers and wider College community for their work in bringing the projects to fruition.
Minister Byron Camilleri said the investment will provide students with additional opportunities for specialised practical learning while ensuring their skills remain aligned with the changing demands of industry.
He said the facilities will allow students not only to study advanced technologies but also to use them, conduct research and gain experience that prepares them for future careers.
MCAST Chief Executive Officer Stephen Vella said the two projects represent an important step forward for the College's research capabilities, enabling it to enter a new phase of innovation.
He also welcomed the European funding that has made the initiatives possible, saying the investment will strengthen MCAST's role in research, education and collaboration with industry.
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Photo Source: DOI - Omar Camilleri