The Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit: Creating Partnerships for the

Knowledge SocietyChristian Mallia

8 December 2008

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Content

Background Set up and membership Areas of activity

1. ICT-assisted education & culture 2. Support to research & innovation3. Regional development4. Environment5. Social & European issues

Projects

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Background

Description of the Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit (FTZ):

public-equivalent organization officially set up in 2004;

based at the University of Malta, it operates as the outreach of the university to the community;

acts as a regional development agency (RDA), comprising several municipalities;

implements local and transnational projects of benefit to the community;

draws key stakeholders together in a collaborative network which serves as the leading multi-stakeholder partnership for regional and sustainable development in Malta.

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Background /2

Initially launched to provide e-learning services and promote educational projects, the foundation’s role has developed to include support for local players embarking on research, cultural and environmental initiatives.

FTZ helps to provide the critical mass often required for participation in transnational projects through networking, clustering and capacity-building actions.

FTZ brings together expertise from complementary fields and institutions, adopting a multidisciplinary, holistic approach to ensure the most successful project outcomes. The varied interests of its members allow FTZ to play an active role in different areas and participate successfully in several European programmes.

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Background /3

The intention to set up the foundation, named after Sir Temi Zammit, was announced in 2003 by the Minister of Education. Sir Temi (1864-1935) stands out as a Maltese personality who enriched our national identity and achieved international recognition through his scientific research – themes actively promoted by FTZ.

FTZ was conceived as an inclusive, collaborative platform to help its members access funding opportunities arising out of Malta’s participation in EU programmes, creating greater social cohesion and contributing to the moulding of tomorrow’s knowledge-based society – “an inclusive society without frontiers to knowledge”.

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Background /4

Being an umbrella organisation, FTZ seeks to maximize the experience gained by working in close association with the ministries, municipalities, public agencies, NGOs and SMEs, thus multiplying the benefits derived from its participation across the whole spectrum of its membership. It is ideally placed to undertake successfully demonstration and dissemination activities and fulfil the role of a multiplier of information.

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Setting up FTZ

1999: Avicenna Virtual Campus project idea – proposed to UNESCO by MCST

2000: MoU between MCST & Mediterranean Institute, UoM

2003: Call for partners to join new Foundation

2004: Deed of Foundation signed 2006: Moved from Villa Bighi (MCST)

to Ir-Razzett tal-Hursun (UoM)

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Membership

Membership is free and open to all

The Board consists of representatives of University of Malta Municipalities, national agencies SMEs, NGOs, social partners

FTZ qualifies as a public-equivalent organization

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Main areas of activity

1. ICT-assisted education & culture

2. Support to research & innovation

3. Regional development

4. Environment

5. Social & European issues

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1. Education & Culture

Mandated by the Ministry of Education to set up national centre for eLearning

=> Avicenna Knowledge Centre=> Avicenna Virtual Campus (UNESCO-led, Euromed network)=> Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth

Operates the Isla Community Technology Learning Centre with the Isla Local Council

Member, Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (ALF)

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Some of our projects

AVC: Avicenna Virtual CampusEUMEDIS

VUSSC: Virtual Univ. for Small States of the Commonwealth W & F Hewlett Foundation

DTMp: Differentiated Teaching Module – Primary: Preparing Trainee Teachers to Respond to Pupil DiversityComenius

CFL: Centre for Flexible LearningUNESCO Participation Programme

CKCs: Community Knowledge Centres UNESCO Participation Programme

Sci-O: Science OnlineUNESCO Participation Programme

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2. Research & Innovation

Mandated by the Ministry of Education to set up national centre for the mobility of researchers

=> Research Mobility Centre=> EURAXESS network (bridgehead organisation)

Hosts national portal for research mobilitywww.ftz.org.mt/euraxess

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Projects R4A: Art thou Researching?

FP7-People

RMC-MT: Research Mobility Centre – MaltaFP6-HRM

IDEALIST 7FP: Support for participants in ICT Priority by network for IST under the transition to the 7th Framework ProgrammeFP6-IST

EPRIstart: Stimulating the Participation of SMEs from NMS in IST ActivitiesFP6-IST

TOSSAD: Towards Open Source Software Adoption and DisseminationFP6-IST

ERA Pilot: ERA Pilot Action in MicroNanotechnology Systems IntegrationFP6-IST

NUPEX: Nuclear Physics ExperienceFP5-IHP

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3. Regional Development

Public-equivalence status confirmed by Office of the Prime Minister (national authority - ERDF)

Often in partnership with Local Councils or national agencies

Financial and other contributions given by organizations like the Vodafone Foundation, UoM…

Involvement in Local Action Group (LAG) for Leader Approach (EARDF) – Rural Development programme

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Some of our projects iPORTS: Intelligent Port Systems

Interreg IIIB - Archimed

MEDMISSION: Mediterranean Cultural Network of Cities – Stations of the Apostle Paul’s Missionary Path Interreg IIIB - Archimed

WDCNET: Digital Citizenship developed on wireless network in geographically isolated areasInterreg IIIB - Archimed

BLEu MED: Bande Large Européenne pour la MEDitérranéeInterreg IIIB - Medocc

MedCOAST.Net: Mediterranean Cooperation for On-Shore Accessibility and Sustainability Themes: Network for managing urban coastal areasInterreg IIIB – Archimed

Projects with University ArcheoMed (Interreg IIIB - Medocc) METIC (Interreg IIIA - Italia-Malta)

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4. Environment

Mandated by the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications to set up an IEE Energy Management Agency for Malta

=> Malta Intelligent Energy Mgt Agency (MIEMA)

EMPOK project (IEE)www.miema.org

Member, FISPMED

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5. Social & European Issues

Accredited EVS (youth) host organisation

Member, EuromedInCulture Jeunesse

Offering support to Europe Direct - Malta relay (UHM)

Offering free courses on EU funding programmes for the EC Representation in Malta

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Some of our projects APPRODI: New Arrivals

DG Enlargement APESC Programme

ECC: European Citizens’ ConsultationsDG Communication – Plan D

RWE: Radio Web EuropeDG Communication – Plan D

Say EU… and Action!DG Communication – Plan D

o9o5o9DG Communication – Debate Europe

PEP: Promoting European Projects among NGOs and CitizensActive European Citizenship

Network to KnowProgress

Be Part of ItYiA

The World is Only One CreatureYiA

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Thank you

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Contacts:

Fondazzjoni Temi ZammitIr-Razzett tal-ĦursunUniversity of MaltaMsida MSD 2080

Tel: +356 2340 2189Web: www.ftz.org.mt