What holds innovation back
Barriers founders often run into:
Limited resources
Regulatory hurdles
Access to talent
The risks of scaling into wider markets
Recurring Programme
The Innovation Exchange
A recurring national programme that brings founders, researchers, policymakers and European partners together to name what holds innovation back in Malta, and to start removing it. The first full edition was on 14 November 2025, and the next is in November 2027.
Next Edition: November 2027
Why It Exists
Innovation moves faster when the whole system talks.
Founders, researchers, public bodies and European partners each see part of the picture. The Exchange puts those views together, so barriers get named and drivers get backed.
What moves it forward
Drivers worth strengthening:
Collaboration across industries and research
Co-creation
Investment readiness
Cross-border partnerships
How It Works
Four steps from conversation to action.
From local context to public debate to real support for founders. The EIT Community Office helped set it up and powered the 2025 edition, funded by the European Union.
01
Ideation sessions
Contextual relevance: sessions that bring together Malta's national context, European opportunities and the needs of local enterprise.
02
Exploratory workshops
Stakeholder engagement: founders and entrepreneurs identify the drivers and barriers of innovation most relevant to Malta, across three tracks.
03
National conference
Public dialogue: stakeholders from across Malta's innovation system meet to discuss those drivers and barriers in the open.
04
Startup applications
Taking it forward: promising startups and founders are supported to take advantage of funding opportunities.
Three Tracks
European reach, local priorities.
In 2025, each track paired target areas of the EIT's Knowledge and Innovation Communities with two Malta Vision 2050 pillars, then asked what helps innovation and what holds it back.
Track 1
Innovating for a greener future
What are the barriers and drivers of innovation for enterprises operating in key sectors that can promote green and blue economies?
Malta Vision 2050 pillars
Low-Carbon Economy
Blue/Green Growth
EIT communities
InnoEnergy, Climate KIC and EIT Urban Mobility
2025 workshop lead
Mark Lawrence Zammit
2025 participants
15–20, from sectors across the economy
Next Edition
Be the first to know.
The next edition is in November 2027; exact dates and venue to be announced, as are dates for the next workshops. Leave your email and we'll tell you first.
In 2026
The conversation continued.
Between full editions, The Innovation Exchange keeps the conversation going through initiatives such as “From Vision to Venture: Building and Funding Malta's Innovation Ecosystem”, a one-hour panel HATCH organised on 13 October 2026. The panel took place at the Urban Mobility Mixer, a conference at Salini Resort organised by the EIT Urban Mobility Hub in Malta and Deep Tech Foundry.
On the Agenda
Where Malta wants to go
What support exists today, and does it join up?
The gaps: grants, investment, commercialisation, market access
From local pilot to European market
Turning vision into tangible support, ahead of Budget 2027
Event Facts
Date
Tuesday 13 October 2026
Venue
Salini Resort, Salina Bay
Part of
The Urban Mobility Mixer, organised by the EIT Urban Mobility Hub in Malta and Deep Tech Foundry
Panel organised by
HATCH, as part of The Innovation Exchange
Panel host and moderator
Diana Miceli, EIT Community Officer for Malta
The full panel on stage at Salini Resort, beside the EIT Urban Mobility banner.
A closer view of the panel during the discussion.
The audience at the panel, seen from the back of the room.
The 2025 Edition
The 2025 edition, in numbers.
On 14 November 2025, Villa Arrigo Hall in Naxxar hosted a full day of keynotes, panels, live demos and networking.
37
speakers on the 2025 programme3
panel discussions on Malta Vision 20506
live startup demos in urban mobility3
exploratory workshop tracksWatch the Day
The Innovation Exchange 2025, in under a minute
A panellist speaking during the discussion.
An attendee listening during the panels.
Dr Mario Balzan in conversation during a coffee break.
The 2025 archive
The full agenda, all 37 speakers, the workshop tracks and the organisations on the programme.
Explore the Archive
The day in pictures
Photos from Villa Arrigo Hall, from registration and the opening to the panels, the expo and the conversations in between.
View the Gallery
What we heard
A recap of the conference, from the opening keynotes to the evening networking.
Read the Recap
Workshop recap videos
Three short videos from the exploratory workshops that ran before the conference, and what they found.
Watch the Recaps
Who Takes Part
Four groups, one conversation.
The Exchange works best when every part of Malta's innovation system is in the room, each bringing something the others need.
Founders and entrepreneurs
Name what slows you down, meet the people who can change it, and find routes to funding. Founders on the HATCH programme get a place at the Exchange.
Researchers and academia
Test research against real market needs, and meet the founders and partners who can take it further.
Policymakers and public bodies
Hear first-hand what helps innovators and what holds them back, and shape the response in open dialogue.
European partners
Connect European programmes, mentoring and funding with Malta's priorities and the people working on them.
Help shape the next edition.
Bring your organisation, your expertise or your questions to the next Innovation Exchange.
Partner With Us