International Relations

Malta

Malta seeks to expand its co-operation with CERN. Scientific and technical collaboration between the University of Malta (UoM) and CERN started in the field of electrical engineering, through the Faculty of Engineering of UoM and the CERN Accelerator Technology Department and, later, the Accelerators and Beams Department of CERN. Contacts have now also been established between the UoM Department of Physics and the UoM Faculty of Information and Communications Technology and CERN. UoM now seeks to expand its involvement with CERN, and is finalizing an Expression of Interest that includes the possibility of collaboration in electronics with the CERN Physics Department, participation in an LHC experiment and in accelerator engineering, and Grid computing as well as student training at CERN.

Malta is making much progress in developing its relationship with CERN. A total of ten students from Malta have participated in the CERN Summer Student Programme in the recent past. One faculty member collaborating with CERN has been appointed by UoM, another is expected to be appointed soon (in experimental particle physics), one student is starting his PhD in the UK and another is planned at UoM. Several other UoM faculty members are interested in collaborating with CERN.

There seem to be prospects for Maltese industry to benefit from collaboration with CERN, e.g., in the micro-electronics and in the software industries. Companies in SmartCity Malta, which will become a hub for high-technology and knowledge-based industries in the country, could also provide opportunities for collaboration with CERN.