Strengthening EU Rural Ecosystems: MCAST’s Contributions to Innovation Guide Project

Nov 20 2024

The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) is thrilled to announce significant progress in the Innovation GUIDE project, now approaching its completion in December 2024.

The Innovation GUIDE project, funded with a budget of almost €500,000, represents a collaborative effort among six organisations from Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malta. MCAST has been dedicated to fostering sustainable innovations that address the unique regional needs of rural regions. The project aims to connect rural ecosystems, stimulate entrepreneurship, and drive economic growth across key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, sustainable tourism, and the bioeconomy.

As a prominent partner in this transnational initiative, MCAST has achieved key milestones, particularly through its leadership in an important project segment focusing on advancing rural innovation ecosystems across Europe. The College’s input has focused on identifying innovation pathways, mapping stakeholders, and conducting comprehensive governance analysis. This approach enabled MCAST to engage actively with stakeholders across the Quadruple Helix (Q-Helix) model —academia, industry, government, and civil society —enhancing collaboration and facilitating impactful insights.

Through these efforts, MCAST has gained essential perspectives on the unique challenges and opportunities within Malta’s rural ecosystems. By concentrating on agriculture, fisheries, bioeconomy, and sustainable tourism, the College has contributed to shaping an inclusive and resilient rural innovation ecosystem supporting national and European objectives. This aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reinforces MCAST’s commitment to sustainable growth.

A pivotal milestone in this project was achieved earlier in 2024, when MCAST hosted a regional workshop titled “Thriving Entrepreneurship: Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, and Bioeconomy in Malta” at its Institute of Engineering and Transport. This notable event brought together leaders from across the Q-Helix, providing a platform to examine the opportunities and challenges facing rural entrepreneurship in Malta. Engaging in discussions fostered collaboration and inspired innovative solutions to promote sustainable practices in the sectors.

Further amplifying its role in the project, MCAST helped coordinate the Interregional Online Event on Innovation and Rural Entrepreneurship in September 2024. This event connected rural innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurs from all participating countries, facilitating collaboration with various networks and entities. Through active exchanges with Q-Helix representatives, participants co-created solutions tailored to the agriculture, bioeconomy, fisheries, and sustainable tourism sectors, reinforcing the project’s mission to strengthen rural entrepreneurship and sustainable development across Europe.

The Innovation GUIDE project reached a culminating milestone during the Türkiye Innovation Week, marking a significant step in its mission to promote rural innovation across Europe. This event attracted over 15,000 participants, including representatives from Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, and Malta, demonstrating the strength of collaboration and cross-border partnerships in addressing rural communities’ unique challenges. Over three days, attendees exchanged ideas, discussed cutting-edge innovations, and generated forward-thinking solutions to drive sustainable rural development across borders.

As a result of the Innovation GUIDE project, significant progress has been made in establishing interconnected innovation ecosystems across the European Union, with a particular emphasis on less-represented rural areas. This initiative has strengthened synergies between rural regions, creating a supportive environment for innovation through active stakeholder engagement. It also led to the organization of regional and international workshops that promoted cooperation among private sector entities, academia, public authorities, civil society, and entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, the project’s focus on inclusivity contributed to developing gender-equal innovation environments and coaching programs, empowering rural entrepreneurs while promoting sustainable growth within these communities. The impact of the project’s outcomes is expected to continue shaping the rural innovation landscape across Europe.

Innovation GUIDE has received funding from the European Union under Grant Agreement 101134854. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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Malta Named Most Desirable Island In EU By Wanderlust Magazine

Nov 20 2024

The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) proudly announces that Visit Malta has won two major UK awards, cementing its reputation as a leading travel destination.

At the 23rd Annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, Malta was named the “Most Desirable Island (Europe),” receiving Gold over Ireland and Madeira. This recognition followed 3.5 million votes from 168,000 Wanderlust readers and was presented on November 6 at London’s Tate Modern.

Hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, the event highlighted destinations excelling in delivering exceptional travel experiences.

Tolene van der Merwe, MTA’s Director for the UK and Ireland, celebrated the achievement, calling it a testament to Malta’s unique appeal and memorable visitor experiences.

Additionally, Visit Malta received the “Aspire Inclusive Initiative of the Year Award” on October 9 in Manchester for its dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

This award recognised Malta’s efforts to enhance accessibility and inclusivity, including hosting EuroPride 2023, sponsoring the Icons of Inclusion event, and improving facilities for visitors of all abilities.

MTA CEO Carlo Micallef highlighted that these awards reflect Malta’s commitment to excellence and inclusivity in tourism. Visit Malta continues to position itself as a premier destination, offering high-quality, diverse, and welcoming experiences for all travellers.

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Nintendo Wii Officially Turns 18 Years Old

Nov 20 2024

The Nintendo Wii marks its 18th anniversary, celebrating a legacy of reshaping the gaming world. Released on November 19, 2006, the Wii introduced motion-sensing controls, offering a unique, interactive gaming experience. This groundbreaking approach, coupled with iconic games like Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, helped make the Wii one of the best-selling consoles in history.

While the Wii U’s struggles followed the Wii’s success, the console’s innovative principles paved the way for the Nintendo Switch. Launched in 2017, the Switch built on the Wii’s design philosophy, prioritizing accessibility and affordability over cutting-edge graphics. Unlike its competitors, the Wii catered to all players—casual gamers, families, and even older adults—by focusing on easy-to-use controls. This broad appeal made gaming more inclusive, with titles like Wii Sports and Wii Fit drawing in new audiences.

Nintendo’s focus on accessible gaming experiences transformed video games from a niche hobby to a universal form of entertainment. The success of the Switch further proves the enduring influence of the Wii, which set a new standard for how gaming consoles could engage players of all types.

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85% Of Maltese Feel They Will Need To Move Due To Climate Change

Nov 20 2024

A survey by the European Investment Bank (EIB) reveals that Maltese citizens see climate change as the second-most pressing challenge facing their country, following the cost of living.

The survey, which included 24,000 participants across the EU and the United States, found that 99% of Maltese respondents recognised the urgent need for climate adaptation—five percentage points higher than the EU average.

Additionally, 77% viewed adaptation as a priority, significantly outpacing the EU average of 50%.

A notable 97% believed investing in climate adaptation could create jobs and boost the local economy, while the same percentage agreed that taking action now would prevent greater costs in the future.

Maltese respondents also stood out for their personal experiences with climate impacts. Almost all (99%) reported experiencing at least one extreme weather event in the last five years, such as heatwaves, coastal flooding, or heavy storms.

Over half had dealt with extreme heat, while others faced issues like power outages, health problems, and food supply disruptions.

The survey also found that 84% of Maltese citizens felt they might need to move due to climate vulnerabilities, compared to just 35% across the EU.

Despite these challenges, 91% of respondents felt informed about how to adapt their lifestyles, with most aware of available public subsidies for adaptation measures.

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