The programme will support cooperation between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities throughout Europe and beyond.

Cooperation is sub-divided into 10 distinct themes. Each theme will be operationally autonomous but will aim to maintain coherence within the Cooperation programme and allowing for joint activities cutting across different themes through joint calls. The themes identified for this programme are:

1. Health

The objective is to improve the health of European citizens and increasing the competitiveness of European health-related industry and businesses while addressing global health issues including emerging epidemics. Emphasis will be placed on transferring basic research discoveries to clinical applications.

2. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology

The main objectives are new solutions to answer the demand for safer and healthier foods combined with sustainable agriculture and renewable bio-resources; address the increasing risks of diseases and food related disorders; threats to sustainability and security of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries production.

3. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

The ICT sub-programme aims to integrate technologies and results in new applications for industrial as well as domestic settings. Activities will strengthen Europe’s scientific and technology base and ensure its global leadership in ICT.

4. Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies

The aim is to generate new knowledge for breakthrough applications and thus transform European industry from resource-based to knowledge-based.

5. Energy

The objective is to transform the current fossil-fuel based energy system into a more sustainable one, with focus placed on renewable energy sources and a significant lowering of CO2 emissions.

6. Environment (including Climate Change)

Sustainable management of the environment and its resources through advancing our knowledge on the interactions between climate, biosphere, ecosystems and human activities and developing new technologies, tools and services in order to address global environmental issues in an integrated way. Emphasis will be placed on ways to predict climate change and the development of novel approaches towards earth observation.

7. Transport (including Aeronautics)

The objective is to develop environmental-friendly, safer and efficient pan-European transportation systems for the benefit of all citizens and society.

8. Social sciences and the Humanities

The aim is to provide an in-depth investigation of the complex social issues facing the EU, including employment, social cohesion, intercultural understanding, quality of life and growth, cultural and educational challenges, migration and ways to affect policies through and improved knowledge-base.

9. Security

This theme will cover technologies developed to ensure citizen security from threats as terrorism, natural disasters and crime.

10. Space

The objective of space research is to support a European Space Programme focusing on applications such as GMES, with benefits for citizens and for the competitiveness of the European space industry.

More information on the Cooperation Programme is available at: http://www.mcst.gov.mt, Queries should be addressed to mcst.info@gov.mt