Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1350550
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 MARCH 2021 12 COMMERCIAL A manifestation of a strengthened cooperation between Turkey and Malta in the field of R&I ON the 9th of March 2021, the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Scientific and Technolog- ical Research Council of Tur- key (TÜBİTAK), organised a live, online event to officially launch a new bilateral call enti- tled MCST-TÜBİTAK 2021 Joint Call for R&I Proposals. This bi- lateral call will support coopera- tion in Science, Technology, and Innovation in the thematic areas of water management, sustain- able farming systems and agro- food value chains. This bilateral call is also officially recognised as a PRIMA Participating State Initiative. The PRIMA Pro- gramme aims to align nation- al R&I policies and budgets to strengthen cooperation and fragmentation of R&I efforts in the Mediterranean Area. The MCST-TUBITAK 2021Bilat- eral Call directly aligns with the Strategic Research and In- novation Agenda of the PRI- MA Programme. Introductory interventions were made by Honourable Dr. Owen Bonnici, Minister for Research, Innova- tion and Co-ordination of Post Covid-19 Strategy; Dr. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, the Exec- utive Chairman of MCST and Prof. Dr Hasan Mandal, the President of TÜBİTAK . In his speech, Minister Bonni- ci praised the sterling work un- dertaken in the last months be- tween MCST and TÜBITAK in terms of this collaboration. He said that the Mediterranean Area is crucial for our country and through these projects, the co-operation between Malta and Turkey will also improve. Dr Bonnici added that this endeavour will also assist re- searchers and innovators from both countries to strengthen their scientific expertise and network, enabling them to col- laborate further in future an- nual PRIMA Calls. In his speech, Dr Jeffrey Pul- licino Orlando remarked how the Council has prioritised the strengthening of its interna- tional portfolio to help the lo- cal research community thrive through collaboration with partners in other countries. Dr. Pullicino Orlando added that: "Cooperating strategi- cally with other countries to address mutual needs and pri- orities and exploring the most suitable collaborating part- ners that best meet the re- search needs of our country, will enhance the country's Re- search and Innovation capac- ity through long-lasting syn- ergies. I am pleased that one such example is that of MCST and TÜBITAK - the focus of today's event." The event was also attended by H.E. Dr. The- resa Cutajar, Malta's Ambas- sador to Turkey, and H.E. Mr. Kerem Ahmet Kiralti, Turkey's Ambassador to Malta. Subse- quently, MCST and TÜBİTAK representatives provided infor- mation on international collab- oration efforts of both entities. Information on the call de- tails of the MCST- TÜBİTAK joint call was also given, where each party will be committing €200,000, to fund 2 R&I pro- jects in the fields of water man- agement, sustainable farming systems and agro-food value chains. Thus, the overall call value will be that of €400,000. The event was recorded and can be viewed through a link that will be promoted on the plumtri platform very soon. Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando Minister Bonnici said that this endeavour will also assist researchers and innovators from both countries to strengthen their scientific expertise and network, enabling them to collaborate further in future annual PRIMA Calls Think big: effective goal setting for huge success FOLLOWING on the success- ful Malta BNI Business Briefing (BBB) about corporate social responsibility (CSR) delivered jointly by CORE Platform's Hel- ga Ellul and Matteo Privitelli last month, effective goal setting for businesses during the pandemic is the theme of the "Harvard of Professional Speaking Schools"- trained international corporate speaker and BNI member Lee Roebeck who has also delivered a great presentation on this sub- ject at the last BNI online Global Convention held last November. Malta BNI National Director David Bullock said: "Whether you are stuck and struggling to achieve success or even already doing well, and just want to lev- el up and grow your business while asking yourself 'when's all of this going to come to- gether for me', then this pres- entation is for you. Lee will be sharing with us his expertise on how to set the right goals, how to overcome fear when going after a huge goal, and how to control your thinking regardless of what's happening around you. He will be proposing a prov- en formula to achieve desired goals, notwithstanding the challenges." In July 2014, Lee Roebeck travelled to Boston in the USA to receive his training at the Harvard of Professional Speaking Schools – The Bill Gove Speech Workshop. Oth- er noteworthy graduates from this prestigious workshop in- clude speakers like Bob Proc- tor, Mark Victor Hansen and Zig Ziglar. This very special- ised training has earned Lee the designation of Certified Corporate Speaker with the In- ternational Association of Cor- porate Speakers. He is also a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course for Effec- tive Communication where he received the Award for Highest Achievement in his graduating class. Lee has spoken on vari- ous international platforms, as he is an expert on mindset. Participants can join this sixth BBB, entitled "Think Big: Effective Goal Setting for Huge Success", on Wednesday 24 March 2021 at 12noon via zoom. Visitors are welcome. Lee Roebeck, the next speaker at Malta BNI Business Briefing on Wednesday 24 March at 12pm