Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540090
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 OCTOBER 2025 COMMERCIAL THIS is the story of the ultimate expression of Bleu de CHANEL, of a fragrance that questions the status quo of perfumery. With this fascinating new cre- ation, Olivier Polge, CHANEL Perfumer-Creator, pushes the boundaries of masculinity. With its remarkably potent amber-woody trail, BLEU DE CHANEL L'EXCLUSIF reveals it power, richness, and complex- ity. It is a bewitching fragrance that captures the attention with its depth. Majestic sandalwood fuels this creation's intensity. Meanwhile, leathery and res- inous notes of cistus labdanum reveal the more mysterious and enchanting aspects of its charac- ter. The precious sandalwood ex- tract used in the composition of CHANEL fragrances, including BLEU DE CHANEL L'Exclusif, comes from an integrated sup- ply chain on the island of Maré, in New Caledonia. This process ensures an ethical and sustaina- ble sourcing of sandalwood that respects the environment, re- sources and local populations. Only the heartwood, rich in es- sential oils, is used and carefully transformed using a tailor-made extraction process. This propri- etary quality of sandalwood ex- tract gives CHANEL fragrances unique olfactory characteristics. 'It's a dense, sophisticated, and complex composition, like an extract. A concentrate of excep- tional raw materials. The most magnetic and mysterious facet of BLEU DE CHANEL'. Olivier Polge, CHANEL Perfumer-Cre- ator. An intriguing, enveloping, and warm fragrance, it blurs the lines and unveils a new geography of audacity. It carries with it an en- hanced sense mystery, stoking anticipation for what's to come. It is a revelation—an invitation to connect with the density of the moment, to be present with- out compromise. BLEU DE CHANEL National initiatives for research and innovation INVESTMENT in research and innovation (R&I) is the key driver of economic growth, job creation, and technological progress. In a world where economies are increas- ingly shaped by science and technology, public funding in R&I enables countries to stay competitive, develop new solutions to pressing global challenges, and transform promising ideas into products and services that generate real impact. In Malta, a coordinated national frame- work for research and innovation supports the journey from concept idea to commer- cialisation. Xjenza Malta is the country's dedicated R&I agency that funds projects that foster innovation at every stage, from early-stage discovery to a market-ready product ready for commercial deployment. By providing funding, guidance and strate- gic support, the agency helps ensure that today's research lays the foundation for to- morrow's breakthroughs. From Idea to Impact Innovation is rarely the product of inspi- ration alone. It requires resources, struc- ture and collaboration. Xjenza Malta's Re- search and Innovation Unit delivers a suite of nationally-funded initiatives designed to support projects as they evolve. These initi- atives encourage practical problem-solving, product design and system optimisation, while facilitating partnerships between universities, companies and public organ- isations. Beyond financial support, Xjenza Malta also provides a clear national frame- work for translating ideas into commercial- ly viable solutions. Start-ups, established businesses and research-performing or- ganisations can access structured pathways that guide them through technical, strategic and market challenges. Supporting the Full Innovation Lifecycle Innovation requires stage-specific sup- port. At the early research stage, the FU- SION Research Excellence Programme provides up to €100,000 per project over a period of 18 months. These projects ex- plore new scientific ideas and concepts, lay- ing the groundwork for future technologies. For ideas with a solid scientific basis that are ready to enter real-world applications for the benefit of our societies, the FUSION Technology Development Programme (TDP) offers up to €500,000. This enables significant product or service improve- ments through collaborative consortia of public institutions and industry partners, encourages knowledge sharing and prob- lem-to-solution development. On the other hand, the FUSION TDP Lite programme provides a faster route for Maltese innovators to develop and demon- strate novel technologies. Designed for sin- gle-company projects, it offers streamlined assistance to turn ideas into working pro- totypes. The applied research programmes in- clude rigorous assessments of technical fea- sibility, commercial potential and intellec- tual property, ensuring projects are set up for success. Collaboration as a Catalyst Innovation thrives on collaboration. The R&I Unit encourages partnerships be- tween businesses, research institutions and government bodies to share expertise and resources. The Thematic Programme, for instance, issues calls in areas of national relevance, creating networks that enhance credibility and open access to European and international funding. Such collab- orative frameworks help reduce the risk of research investments while promoting practical solutions. Bridging the Gap to Market Bringing prototypes to market is often the hardest step. Malta's national R&I ini- tiatives address this through programmes such as FUSION Go To Market, support- ing testing, verification and optimisation to meet market expectations. The FUSION Voucher Programme fur- ther assists with commercialisation ser- vices, including market research, business planning and intellectual property man- agement. Working with pre- approved service providers, companies gain expert guidance that accelerates their journey from concept to customer-ready prod- ucts. Knowledge Exchange and Extension Successful innovation also depends on knowledge exchange. The Research Networking Scheme connects innova- tors with national and international R&I partners, while a programme, tailored to industry needs, help companies access specialised expertise from higher educa- tion institutions, overcoming technical challenges and refining solutions. Results and Impact These Xjenza Malta R&I programmes have delivered practical solutions across diverse sectors, including medical devic- es, engineered products, AI and FinTech tools. Many projects have secured pat- ents, attracted investment and gained international recognition, showcasing the tangible economic and societal benefits of structured national support for research and innovation. A Platform for Breakthroughs In a nutshell, national R&I Initiatives provide a robust combination of fund- ing, technical guidance and collaborative networks that help innovators transform ideas into real-world solutions. By offer- ing structured pathways, stage-specific support and access to international op- portunities, they create an environment in which research consistently translates into measurable impact.