When the European Commission recently published the European Innovation Scoreboard 2025, Malta had reason to celebrate. Malta’s innovation performance has climbed to 95 per cent of the EU average, up from 87.4 per cent a year earlier and representing a notable 16.7 percentage point improvement since 2018. This is not merely a number but a reflection of the steady development of Malta’s innovation ecosystem which is becoming a collaborative space where ideas, talent, and partnerships can flourish.
While this progress, which has been supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, is encouraging, it is worth noting that the European Innovation Scoreboard is a comparative rather than a policy tool. Even minor methodological or data changes can result in significant shifts in rankings, sometimes having a disproportionate effect on specific indicators. As such, direct country-to-country comparisons should be interpreted with caution.
Malta now ranks 12th among EU Member States, firmly within the “Moderate Innovators” category and edging close to the EU average. In some areas we have become leaders. Since 2018, the number of foreign doctorate students has surged by 294 per cent, while non-R&D innovation spending, and trademark applications continue to strengthen our position as a hub of creativity. Cloud computing use has grown by more than 300 per cent, reflecting a nation quick to embrace digital tools, and public-private research collaboration has risen by over 124 per cent. These results reflect the gradual impact of coordinated efforts between government, academia, the private sector, and European partners. They show how incremental collaboration can translate into broader progress over time.
Much of this improvement stems from the groundwork laid in recent years. Xjenza Malta has played a pivotal role by establishing and promoting research and innovation funding instruments, including greater access to Horizon Europe whereby Malta has managed to secure 56 million euro to date. This has enabled innovators in Malta to plug into Europe’s wider research networks and attract the critical funding needed to scale up their ideas. At the same time, the Malta Innovation Forum has emerged as an essential platform for bringing stakeholders together. By creating a regular space for dialogue, it has broken down silos and fostered the kind of collaboration that drives real progress.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has also played its part. Four of its nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities, namely EIT Climate, EIT Digital, EIT Food and EIT Urban Mobility have helped Maltese institutions, companies, and public entities participate in more than twenty innovation projects. These projects span everything from carbon monitoring and circular food systems to digital transformation and sustainable mobility, and they show the breadth of opportunity that can emerge when European and local players work together.
Yet challenges remain. Malta’s public and private R&D expenditure continue to lag far behind the EU average, while venture capital availability and support for business R&D remain among the lowest in Europe. The number of new ‘home grown’ doctorate graduates is also a persistent weak point. If we are to fully realise our Vision 2050 strategy, Malta must not only continue improving in innovation adoption but also invest in the foundations of research capacity, talent development, and long-term funding mechanisms. The ecosystem we have built shows that we have the collaborative structures to do this but we still need greater political will and sustained investment.
Malta’s innovation story today is defined less by statistics and more by collaboration. The University of Malta, MCAST, private companies, government agencies, and NGOs have all participated in EIT-backed projects, while local hubs such as DiHubMT, BusinessLabs, Malta Innovation Hub, and EIT Community Hub Malta are working together to bridge European networks with Maltese innovators. This collaborative journey, which reflects the EIT Community Officer’s mission, has created the conditions for success. It is this shared sense of purpose and responsibility that gives me confidence Malta can go even further.
The next milestone in Malta’s innovation journey will be the Innovation Exchange, taking place on 14 November 2025 at Villa Arrigo. This event will bring together voices from across Malta’s innovation landscape to identify obstacles and opportunities under three themes: innovating for a greener future, empowering communities through social wellness innovation and smart growth through innovation. The Innovation Exchange will not just be a discussion. It will be a launchpad for collaborative projects and policy recommendations aligned with Malta’s long-term Vision 2050. Anyone who wants to shape Malta’s innovation future is welcome to join, contribute, and become part of this shared journey with more information available at https://hatch.mt/innovation-exchange/.
Malta’s performance in the European Innovation Scoreboard offers cause for cautious optimism. It validates the work already done by Xjenza Malta, the Malta Innovation Forum, the EIT, and countless partners. But more importantly, it signals what is possible when we commit to collaboration and invest in our future. Innovation in Malta is no longer the concern of a few. It is a national priority and a shared responsibility. By maintaining this spirit and addressing our remaining gaps, we can transform today’s progress into tomorrow’s prosperity.
For more information, please reach out to the EIT Community RIS HUB Malta: malta@eitcommunity.eu or follow the Linkedin page: EIT Community RIS Hub Malta
