Xjenza Malta launches the call for the R&I Expo Awards 2025

Xjenza Malta officially announces the launch of the R&I EXPO Awards 2025, a prestigious new initiative aimed at honouring groundbreaking research and innovation across Malta. The awards will spotlight projects that have delivered tangible impact in science, industry and society. Finalists will be presented with their awards during the Xjenza Malta R&I EXPO to be held on 19 and 20 November 2025.

During this year’s EXPO, Xjenza Malta will be showcasing more than 35 projects covering a diverse range of themes including blue & green economy, sustainability, engineering, health and wellbeing and ICT from the ten Xjenza Malta programmes listed hereunder:

SINO-MALTA Fund
XJENZA MALTA-TUBITAK
BLUE BIO COFUND
MARTERA
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
SMART CITIES PROGRAMME
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE PROGRAMME
GO-TO-MARKET
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME LITE
THEMATIC PROGRAMME SPACE UPSTREAM

The second day of the EXPO will include a conference in collaboration with CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research.

The Xjenza Malta R&I EXPO Awards 2025 are open to Malta-registered legal entities and researchers linked to projects funded since 2021 under Xjenza Malta, or the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. Applicants must have been involved in carrying out research in Malta. The Xjenza Malta R&I EXPO Awards 2025 will feature four distinct categories:

Outstanding Innovative SME Award, which recognises private entities that have developed pioneering projects with strong market potential and capacity to transform industries;
Outstanding Technological Innovation Award, which rewards projects that demonstrate significant technological ingenuity, including advancements in products, processes or intellectual property;
Outstanding Transnational Collaboration Award, which celebrates partnerships that have fostered impactful international research and collaboration; and
Outstanding Early-Career Researcher Award, which highlights promising researchers within five years of their attaining their Ph.D., who show excellence and future potential in their fields.

How to Apply?

Applications are open until 24 October 2025 at 17:00 CET. Submissions must be made via the official application form.

Late entries will not be considered.

With the launch of the R&I EXPO Awards 2025, Xjenza Malta reaffirms its commitment to celebrating excellence, inspiring innovation and reinforcing Malta’s role in the global research ecosystem.

For further information on the event, one can visit the R&I Expo 2025 page. Applicants may contact horizon.malta@gov.mt and/or alessandra.loria@gov.mt for more information.