Malta is expecting to take its next steps in their innovation journey following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Government of Malta
The agreement was announced during the EIT Innovation Awards ceremony in Budapest and paves the way for the launch of the EIT Regional Innovation Booster (EIT RIB) pilot in Malta from 2026.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding positions Malta as the latest country to join the initiative, building on recent expansion efforts across modest and moderate innovator regions in Europe. It follows Poland’s entry into the programme in May 2025, marking growing momentum for the EIT’s drive to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems.
Expanding support for startups and scale-ups
The EIT RIB is a programme designed to provide targeted assistance to promising startups and scale-ups operating in countries that often face growth barriers due to limited innovation infrastructure.
The EIT RIB aims to help early-stage ventures grow through funding, mentoring, and structured pathways, enabling them to become competitive, investment-ready companies with international reach.
In Malta, the three-stage pilot will work hand in hand with existing national innovation schemes. Participants will receive guidance from experts across the EIT Community, including competitions, incubation programmes, and commercialisation support. The approach is designed to accompany innovators from initial concept development through market entry and international expansion.
To support the overall EIT RIB pilot across participating countries until 2028, the EIT has earmarked at least €30 million. Malta’s inclusion ensures that its innovators will have direct access to a broader pool of resources, networks, and European collaboration opportunities.
Rising innovation activity in Malta
The launch of the pilot comes at a time when Malta’s involvement in EIT activities has been steadily accelerating. Since 2021, more than €3.4 million in EIT grants have been distributed to Maltese organisations across seven Knowledge and Innovation Communities, covering areas such as climate, mobility, digital technologies, and health. A significant share of this support has gone directly to small and medium-sized enterprises.
By the end of 2024, EIT-backed programmes had helped create or support 31 ventures in Malta, introduced three innovations to the market, and equipped more than 750 Maltese participants with entrepreneurial and deep-tech skills. Eleven Maltese partners are currently engaged in EIT KICs, giving the country the highest per-capita engagement rate among participating nations.
The EIT Community Hub Malta, opened in 2024, has been key to this progress. It has become a key access point for innovators seeking funding, skills training, and Europe-wide collaboration, while also helping raise Malta’s visibility within the broader EIT network. Participation levels in EIT initiatives are estimated to be double Malta’s participation rate in Horizon Europe, highlighting the relevance and accessibility of the programmes for local talent.
Impact through success stories
One of the clearest examples of this impact is Greenroads, a Maltese startup using artificial intelligence and real-time data to improve urban road safety and traffic management. Early support from EIT Climate-KIC and EIT Urban Mobility allowed the company to build and scale its technology, eventually expanding into European markets and leading smart-mobility projects such as Ghent’s traffic-management pilot.
With the new Memorandum of Understanding in place, Malta now has a secure channel into Europe’s innovation landscape. The Regional Innovation Booster pilot is expected to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem, create new opportunities for entrepreneurs, and generate long-term economic and societal benefits.
