ASTP recently hosted its second directors forum on our shores. This brought together Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) directors from over 20 different countries for a fruitful exchange of ideas.

The two day event opened at the Farsons Brewhouse and Trident Park, with Farsons Deputy CEO Mr Michael Farrugia setting the tone for talks in the historic Lewis Farrugia Boardroom which previously served as the founders office. This was followed by a tour of the building where the group immersed themselves in the stunning architecture that was recently renovated to house a number of local startups. The newly refurbished space not only cultivates an environment that encourages innovation and creativity but also serves as a testament to Farsons' commitment to social value by creating a space with civic, public and cultural benefit in mind.

Supercharger Ventures operations manager Ms Stefania Ditrani and co-founder Mr Alessandro Di Lullo from Supercharger shared their insights on setting up base in Malta. As an accelerator company focusing on EdTech, they spoke about some of the ins and outs of the sector as well as their reasons for selecting Malta as their chosen hub, remarking on the island’s nurturing environment for startups. This session segued into an interview with the Administrative Director of UM's KTO Dr Ing. Anton Bartolo where he briefly mentioned the history of the KTO and the challenges they faced that ultimately lead them to where they are now.

The final day of the forum delved into discussions as to how to manage expectations of university management and took a deep dive into the best practices in management and governance of a KTO.