The National STEM Engagement Working Group, including a number of UM academics, has officially launched the fourth edition of the National STEM Community Fund for 2025. This announcement was made by the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research, and Innovation, Keith Azzopardi Tanti, during a press conference earlier today.
Closing the press conference Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti said that the Government is dedicated to continuing its investment in research and innovation. To demonstrate this commitment, we are not only increasing funding by four times compared to previous years but we are also raising the maximum project cap from €8,000 to €10,000.
Xjenza Malta CEO Mr Silvio Scerri said that “This initiative focuses on collaboration and leveraging the collective power of people, ideas, and expertise. The fund will equip individuals with the necessary tools to turn a clear vision into a tangible impact.
During her presentation, Irene Mangion, Projects Lead at Esplora said that “In line with all the efforts being made by the European Union to recognise and value the contribution of citizens to the collection of scientific information and to creativity in solving local, national and global challenges, we would also like to use this fund to express our support for these very valuable initiatives.”
The National STEM Community Fund is an initiative managed by Esplora Interactive Science Centre on behalf of Xjenza Malta. With a total budget of €100,000 for 2025, the Fund aims to inspire and support community-based projects that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Through this initiative, the Fund provides financial assistance, with each winning project receiving up to €10,000.
The aim is to foster collaboration between community groups and STEM professionals to develop projects that address local needs and contribute to community well-being.
The National STEM Community Fund encourages local schools, local councils, museums, community groups, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to apply. These organisations are invited to work with an identified STEM professional to create projects that are both oriented within a STEM field and have tangible, sustainable outcomes for the community. By supporting these participatory projects, the Fund seeks to promote greater engagement with science, education, communication, and citizen science within local communities.
In 2024, the Fund distributed €24,000, supporting a diverse range of projects that saw collaboration between community-based institutions and STEM professionals. These projects focused on addressing community needs while promoting STEM disciplines and fostering long-term engagement with science.
Applications for the 2025 edition of the National STEM Community Fund are open until 23 May 2025. Eligible organisations wishing to apply can obtain further information and submit their applications by sending an email.
