Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534195
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 APRIL 2025 NEWS High-end manufacturing • Aim for industry 4.0 by integrating technologies like AI and robotics into manufacturing and supply chains • Increase the production of current manufacturing players and attract new semiconductor manufacturers • Establish Malta as a research, testing and innovation centre with focus on ma- rine biotechnology • Promote growth of generic drug man- ufacturing Smart construction • Boost fiscal incentives and schemes for buildings renovation and enhanced ener- gy efficiency • Empower local/regional authorities in monitoring and planning construction sites and work Healthcare • Upgrade health infrastructure • Establish public-private partnerships, while improving government capabilities in designing and managing PPPs • Promote private health insurance • Reduce non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, obesity and mental health through prevention and tailored policies • Adopt AI-driven health platform to improve treatment decisions and tele- medicine services • Improve fertility outcomes for Maltese population by subsidising IVF treatments and promote healthier lifestyles • Strengthen mental health programmes in schools to students and parents Social policies • Enhance social and affordable hous- ing offering through specialised housing solutions • Introduce optional supplementary pension scheme with employer matching contributions to boost retirement savings • Refine annual pension adjustment in- dex to align state pensions with inflation and living costs • Extend services beyond childcare solu- tions and offer more flexible parental leave and work-life balance options • Create a blockchain-powered app to incentivise citizens in adopting sustain- able actions and behaviours, offering re- wards for individuals Mobility • Expansion of the availability of shared bikes, e-scooters and microcars • Development of green public mass transportation systems • Subsidies on electric vehicle purchases and grants for home charging stations • Increase routes and ferry seats for is- land connectivity • Integration of public, private and shared transportation modes into a re- al-time platform • Deploy delivery drones to reduce com- mercial vehicles from the road Education • Update national curricula with a focus on future-proof skills and STEM disciplines • Develop industry-specific skills frame- work and career pathways to close poten- tial skills gaps • Facilitate the simplification and re- duction of administrative tasks and offer more relevant evidence-informed train- ing for educators Energy • Increase renewable energy share of 25% by 2030, mainly through photovolta- ic with wind energy coming on board in the years after • Improve energy affordability for all households • Explore a third interconnector with the EU or North Africa Environment • Establish a national restoration pro- gramme focusing on natural habitats and water management • Introduce advanced recycling technol- ogies • Construct a waste-to-energy plant and expand organic waste collection and pro- cessing National identity • Restore, preserve and repurpose his- torical sites • Long-term funding programme to support film servicing industry, content creation and local artists and creatives • Create a national heritage volunteer network • Enhance indoor and outdoor sports facilities • Ensure elite athletes have access to top-tier training facilities, expert coach- ing and financial support Policing and defence • Upgrade law enforcement capabilities with enhanced digital forensics, predic- tive policing and inter-agency intelligence • Strengthen Malta's maritime security by investing in more surveillance capabil- ities and regional defence collaborations • Establish a dedicated government Cy- ber Incident Response Unit • Implement legal framework mandat- ing cybersecurity standards for govern- ment agencies and critical infrastructure operators Smart land and sea usage • Locate complementary factories near each other or key infrastructure such as placing finished product manufacturers close to airports and ports • Enhance industrial sites with employ- ee-focussed amenities such as childcare facilities, canteens and accomodations • Prioritise space allocation for strategic sectors • Enhance green spaces and transform urban areas by creating and upgrading gar- dens, parks and open spaces • Explore large land reclamation initi- atives to address limited land space and create additional space for country's needs Gozo • Incentives for farmers and livestock breeders to adopt sustainable practices • Expand premium accommodations with quality furnished premises • Initiatives to attract high-value work- ers, start-ups and entrepreneurs • Promote Gozo's identity, talent and cultural assets transform country, economy and society by 2050 The vision aims to increase the production of current manufacturing players like ST (above) and attract new manufacturers Vision calls for more incentives to encourage building renovations Vision commits to a mass transportation system but a final decision on what type of system will be taken later this year School curricula will have a focus on STEM disciplines Vision calls for strengthening of Malta's maritime security A robot at Mater Dei Hospital that assists surgeons; the vision calls for AI-driven platforms to improve treatment decisions and telemedicine Plan calls for more flexible parental leave