Opposition Leader Alex Borg has emphasised that “innovation must become a national priority” if Malta is to remain competitive in the years ahead. Speaking at The Innovation Exchange: Accelerating Smart Growth at Villa Arrigo, an event organised by the EIT Community Hub Malta, BusinessLabs and Hatch, he said Malta has the potential to “invent, compete, and inspire,” but only if innovation becomes more than a slogan.
Borg noted that the workshops leading to the event showed that Malta “does not lack ideas; it does not lack talent; and it does not lack ambition.” However, he argued that the country needs an innovation ecosystem that is more open, connected and integrated with Europe.
He said that to sustain long-term competitiveness, innovation must be placed “at the centre of our economy, our education system, and our governance.” Borg added that Government must reduce bureaucracy, strengthen intellectual property protections and provide stability for investors.
He highlighted that “innovation is not only about technology,” pointing to sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, local councils and cultural organisations. He warned that innovation must reach everyone, noting that “if innovation benefits only a few, inequality grows.”
Borg concluded that Malta must act now, stating: “Our competition is global. And Malta cannot afford to be left behind.”
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