The Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Research, and Innovation today organized the third in a series of six thematic events being held this year in collaboration with Xjenza Malta. Following the success of previous discussions, this event focused on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, sectors at the heart of modern change. This series will continue in the coming months with a focus on other crucial areas, including Nutrition, iGaming and Fintech, and Clean Energy.
During his speech, Parliamentary Secretary Youth, Research, and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti emphasized that the four projects presented today, with a total investment of more than €475,000, represent the best of Maltese ingenuity. He explained that these initiatives prove Malta has become a bold developer of technology that addresses real-world challenges. This effort fits perfectly within Malta Vision 2050, with the objective of building a high-value and sustainable economy driven by innovation. Also, digital transformation is one of the five enablers that will lead to the implementation of the Vision itself. “The digital future is not being imported; it is being written here, in our country, with our own capabilities,” stated the Parliamentary Secretary.
He added that this strategic plan is built upon three fundamental elements, including a future-ready workforce where researchers and students are trained on real-world platforms, a digital economy that serves as an engine for growth, and an improved quality of life where technology strengthens security and democratic values.
The event included the presentation of the four innovative projects:
DIHICS: A project using wall-climbing robots and machine learning to inspect bridges automatically, thereby reducing risks for workers and public inconvenience.
TEKAID6G and VeLoWave: Initiatives paving the way for the future of 6G and smart agriculture, ensuring future connectivity is energy-efficient and capable of reaching remote areas.
NBxAI: A project utilizing Explainable AI to help identify visual bias in the news, helping to build a more informed and critical society.
Researchers explained that this work serves as the bridge between today's complex challenges and the solutions that will define tomorrow. By developing open-source digital tools, Malta is positioning itself as a global hub for Research and Innovation.
