Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/240181
42 Events maltatoday, Sunday, 12 January 2014 Frank Salt Real Estate sponsors Valletta exhibition in Paris Frank Salt Real Estate is pleased to be among the esteemed main sponsors of the Reasonable Dreams Exhibition, currently being held at La Galerie d'Architecture, in Paris throughout the month of December and running till mid-January. The exhibition focuses on Valletta, the Islands' Capital city and European Capital of Culture for 2018. Conceived by Architecture Project (AP), the exhibition is a thoughtful journey through the city's transformation, linking past and future seamlessly around three main axes: historical dreams,realised dreams, and the fragmentation of time-space through artistic dreams. Empathy with the origins of planned and realised capital projects is at the base of this interpretation of the evolution of Valletta from its Renaissance beginnings to its current revival through projects such as the on-going City Gate project by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, or the Barrakka Lift by AP. The exhibition includes drawings, models, video installations, sculptures and historical plans. Artistic dreams inspired by the current remodeling of Valletta's urban fabric are represented in the works of Alex Attard (Malta), Riet Eeckhout (Belgium), Bettina Hutschek (Germany) and Jon Tarry (Australia), and serve as a springboard for new explorations and proposals. Frank Salt Real Estate is present at the exhibition through its Valletta Heritage Property Collection, showcasing some of the city's most prestigious palazzos and townhouses available for sale, as well as a selection of smaller type residences, ideal as a rental investment or as a bachelor's pad. "We are very proud to have been approached to be part of this great initiative by AP," commented Joseph Lupi, managing director for Frank Salt Real Estate. "Our company strongly believes in the potential and beauty of Valletta and throughout 2013 we have also been very active within the French market. When the opportunity to amalgamate the two presented itself, we did not hesitate to support the effort." On the 10 January, the company also hosted a seminar at the gallery, focusing on Malta property and residency options, which was guests of the gallery and other selected members. Earlier this year, Frank Salt Real Estate also sponsored a concert by Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja and the symphonic orchestra Garde Republicaine which was held by the Maltese Embassy in Paris at the majestic Hotel des Invalides under the patronage of Claude Bartolone, the President of the Assemblée Nationale For more information one may contact Nick Bilocca at Frank Salt Real Estate on telephone 23 794794 or by email at nbilocca@franksalt. com.mt, or log on to www.franksalt. com.mt FameLab Malta: the search is on for new voices of science communication How plants know that they have been touched? How cabbages keep warm in winter? How does a virus mutate? Why men have nipples? These and similar unusual yet pertinent questions covering the most fascinating scientific facts to the downright weird ones, can serve as topics for the FameLab Malta and School Lab competitions. The British Council, the National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF) and the Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta have teamed up with FameLab, the biggest international search for new voices of science and engineering, to give enthusiastic early career scientists and researchers in Malta the chance to demonstrate their skills in this event. This is the second time that Malta is participating in FameLab, an international competition spanning over 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States in the search for the next top science communicator. In addition to FameLab Malta competition, the British Council and NSTF launched School Lab 2014 – a science communication video competition for secondary school students attending Form 1 to Form 4. The first edition of School Lab aims to inspire students to learn and talk more about science, and make their school science experiences creative and fun. FameLab Malta and School Lab are being organised with the support of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, Microsoft, APS Bank, Vodafone, and Stage Malta. The launch of FameLab Malta and School Lab competition was announced by the British High Commissioner Rob Luke during a press conference held today at St Margaret Boy's Secondary School in Cospicua. Luke said: "Last year's FameLab Malta competition was a roaring success. This year we want to do even better, with even more contestants. So if you are working in science, technology, engineering or maths please get involved. BOV and EIF launch BOV Start Plus Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (left) and BOV Chairman John Cassar White Biomedical Engineer Dr Owen Falzon delivering his winning presentation on brian-computer interfaces during the launch of FameLab Malta and School Lab competitions coordinated by The British Council, NSTF and RIDT Making science come alive for non-scientists in just three minutes is a tall order. But passion and enthusiasm goes a long way. I wish all the contestants the best of luck". Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, Dr Stefan Buontempo said that in Malta, the percentage of undergraduates reading in a science subject is only of 15% according to the 2011 Eurostat statistics, when compared to the European average of 23%. The government is working towards increasing this percentage to bring it closer to the European average. Biomedical engineer Dr Owen Falzon was last year's winner of FameLab Malta. He placed Malta among the top 10 countries in the Famelab International competition final at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK in June 2013. At the press launch, Falzon captivated the audience when he conveyed the wonder of his winning concept in three minutes. RIDT's CEO Wilfred Kenely said that FameLab provides an excellent opportunity to promote young scientists and their research. "We strongly believe in FameLab's objective, that of giving young scientists a platform from where they can communicate their science and research projects. Contestants do not only present their scientific progress to a broader nonscientific audience but are able to communicate what they do. Making science accessible and attractive through good communication helps support public funding for research, which is very much in line with the RIDT's mission." Contestants will have three minutes to pitch a concept in science or engineering and deliver a talk to a panel of judges. Each judge will assess the finalists' presentations on three qualities: content, clarity and charisma. Auditions for FameLab will be held at MCAST Institute of Applied Sciences on the 5 April. Participants aged 18 years and over can register online on www.famelabmalta.org.mt. The Malta finalists will get the chance to take part in a weekend Masterclass with a British expert in media and communication skills. The winning prize consists of a fully covered trip to the UK to compete and represent Malta in the Cheltenham Science Festival from 3 June to 8 June 2014. BOV Start Plus was launched earlier on today following an agreement reached between the European Investment Fund (EIF) and Bank of Valletta. This is the first CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme) Guarantee agreement to support financing for start-ups and micro-enterprises in Malta. The agreement was launched in the presence of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during an event organised at BOV Centre. Commenting on the signature, EIF Head of Guarantees, Securitisation & Microfinance Alessandro Tappi said, "We are pleased to be launching the first guarantee agreement under the CIP Programme with Bank of Valletta for the benefit of micro-enterprises in Malta. Bank of Valletta is one of EIF's long-term partners and we expect that the loans granted thanks to this agreement will be rapidly channelled to micro-enterprises which need financing the most". In his address, John Cassar White, Bank of Valletta Chairman said, "Through BOV Start Plus, Bank of Valletta is consolidating its position as the Bank that constantly gives its full support to the SME sector and the Maltese Economy. SMEs are recognised as the backbone of the economy with 94.1% of businesses in Malta employing less than 10 employees. Over the past years, Bank of Valletta has consolidated its position as the Bank of SMEs. Over 592 SMEs benefitted from financing through the BOV JEREMIE, a scheme which was so popular that it was oversubscribed 10 months before it expired. Its success led to an extension of a further €11 million a few months ago. Now, we are taking our commitment further by launching the BOV Start Plus Scheme. "Today's agreement is another important milestone not only for Bank of Valletta, but also for the country. Through this centralised EU financial engineering instrument, we shall be addressing a major concern of start ups and micro-enterprises, namely access to finance. In fact, this new facility is aimed at ensuring high outreach and accessibility in the business community for micro SMEs and start-ups. With the BOV Start Plus, access to finance has just become easier." Cassar White concluded by reassuring those present, that the Bank, particularly through its Business Generation and EU Affairs Department and its EU Representative Office in Brussels, will continue to explore other opportunities that will be of benefit to the Maltese Economy. In his closing speech, Muscat complimented Bank of Valletta for translating the concept of an EU financial instrument into a reality and setting a benchmark for Malta. "The government is aware of the challenges being faced by SMEs to access finance, and encourages financial institutions to apply for both centralised and decentralised EU Programmes to help this important segment of the Maltese economy."