The Innovation for Industry (I4I) is a national funding initiative providing aid for the private sector by supporting applied, industrial research and development initiatives rather than focusing solely on scientific excellence or breakthrough research.
The scope of the programme is to provide financial support for incremental product or process improvement. This initiative will accelerate the application and transfer of technological innovations to the industry, adapting them to business operations through applied technical research.
The Innovation for Industry programme aims to:
- Drive applied innovation through product and process improvement.
- Strengthen the private sector’s R&D and innovation capabilities.
- Support incremental innovation projects that enhance industrial efficiency and output.
- Enhance Malta’s competitiveness through sustainable, innovation-based growth.
- Increase economic output by supporting industrial activities.
Local Maltese entities are eligible for funding up to a maximum grant amount of €150,000.
The scheme supports private entities through two complementary streams that address distinct yet interlinked aspects of industrial innovation:
- Industry-Academia Stream
- Talent Integration Top-up
Industry-Academia Stream
This optional stream incentivises companies to collaborate with Maltese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by subcontracting expertise to address specific industrial challenges. It enables businesses to access academic knowledge and technology solutions that can lead to tangible product or process improvements, whilst ensuring IP security.
This stream aims to:
- Encourage private–HEI partnerships for applied innovation.
- Promote technology transfer and knowledge sharing.
- Foster Private – Higher Education Institutes partnerships in a low-risk environment.
- Assist in the improvement of current processes/products within industry.
- Safeguard industry IP.
Talent Integration Top-up
The optional Talent Integration top-up supports the recruitment or internal transfer of highly qualified personnel (M.Sc. or Ph.D. holders (equivalent to MQF level 7 or higher)) into dedicated R&D roles within private enterprises. The stream provides a €40,000 top-up incentive towards the wage of specialised personnel, conditional upon the provision of an indefinite employment contract. This mechanism aims to embed long-term research expertise within industry, creating a sustainable pipeline of innovation-focused talent and products.
This top-up aims to:
- Increase the uptake of specialised researchers within the private sector.
- Build in-house R&D capacity and promote knowledge-driven innovation.
- Bridge the gap between research expertise and industrial application.
- Support the creation of stable, innovation-focused employment.
- Drive long-term competitiveness through human capital investment.
Xjenza Malta is offering matchmaking services for applicants wishing to opt this Top-up. Should applicants wish to tap into this service, they should utilise the additional call timeframe for the matchmaking, proposal writing, and application. Kindly contact the programme managers to access the pool of researchers.
An online information session with more details on the I4I was held on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
Click here to view the recorded information session.
For further information on this year’s call, kindly refer to the rules of participation and application form.
Click here to access the Rules of Participation – A1
Click here to access the Rules of Participation – A2
Click here to access the application form.
All projects are evaluated by a selection panel set up by Xjenza Malta on the basis of evaluation criteria outlined in the Call text. Interested Applicants are to submit the below documentation electronically ri.xjenzamalta@gov.mt by the 18 May 2026 at 23:59 CET keeping in copy Ms Giulia Aquilina at giulia.aquilina@gov.mt, Ms Mariah Vella at mariah.vella.5@gov.mt. All received applications shall be acknowledged by email. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
For further information please contact:
Ms Giulia Aquilina at giulia.aquilina@gov.mt (+356) 2360 2197 and/or Ms. Mariah Vella at mariah.vella.5@gov.mt (+356) 2360 2114
