FiR.mt Wins National Award 2026
The Foundation for Innovation and Research – Malta (FiR.mt) has received the Winner Award at the National Supporting Business Awards 2026, under Section B, Category 5 – Supporting the Sustainable Transition, for its PROMISE initiative. The Foundation’s TRANSIT initiative was also nominated in a separate award category.
The award was presented during a ceremony organised by the Commerce Department on 13 November 2026 at the Malta Business Registry, recognising initiatives that contribute to business development, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth in Malta.
Mr Godwin Mifsud, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects, presented the award to FiR.mt. The ceremony also featured an address by Mr Godwin Warr, Director General (Commerce), highlighting the importance of initiatives supporting Malta’s business and innovation environment.
The recognition marks an important achievement for FiR.mt and reflects the collective efforts of its researchers, project partners, collaborators and stakeholders in advancing research-driven solutions for the sustainable energy transition.
PROMISE: Advancing Photovoltaic Reliability in Malta
The award-winning initiative, PROMISE: Accelerating Malta’s Sustainable Energy Transition by Building a National Photovoltaic Reliability Ecosystem, addresses one of the key challenges facing renewable energy deployment: ensuring the long-term reliability, efficiency and performance of photovoltaic (PV) installations.
As solar energy deployment expands, effective monitoring, diagnostics and maintenance become essential to protecting investments, reducing avoidable energy losses and extending the operational lifetime of photovoltaic systems.
Coordinated by FiR.mt and funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme, PROMISE brought together leading European research organisations, industry partners and Maltese stakeholders to strengthen national capabilities in photovoltaic reliability, technological innovation and knowledge transfer.
Implemented between October 2022 and October 2025, the initiative has established lasting research infrastructure, partnerships and expertise that continue to support Malta’s sustainable energy transition.
Research, Innovation and Lasting Impact
PROMISE established an integrated national photovoltaic reliability ecosystem, combining research-grade infrastructure, digital technologies, industry collaboration and specialised education.
Its principal achievements include:
- 10 research-grade photovoltaic Living Laboratories and three specialised research platforms supporting continuous monitoring, diagnostics and technology validation under Mediterranean conditions.
- 44 Key Exploitable Results, including digital tools, monitoring solutions, datasets, research methodologies and educational resources.
- 21 peer-reviewed scientific publications and contributions to 35 international conferences, workshops and stakeholder events.
- More than 180 learners trained and 24 researchers benefiting from mentoring and international knowledge exchange.
- Two Mediterranean PV Advanced Schools, international research internships, public lectures, workshops and practical Living Lab demonstrations.
- 31 educational videos, extending access to technical knowledge and supporting skills development.
A particularly significant achievement has been the development of an open, modular photovoltaic monitoring platform, designed to integrate research-grade instrumentation and technologies from multiple manufacturers.
This infrastructure enables independent scientific investigation, advanced diagnostics, degradation studies, predictive maintenance and long-term data collection, supporting further technological innovation and evidence-based decision-making.
Importantly, the research infrastructure established through PROMISE continues operating beyond the project’s original funding period, contributing to research, education, industry collaboration and the development of future innovative solutions.
European Collaboration and National Engagement
PROMISE demonstrates the value of international research partnerships in developing sustainable national capabilities.
Led by FiR.mt, the consortium brought together the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), CEA in France, CENER in Spain, the Becquerel Institute in Belgium, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and Maltese technology innovator PIXAM Ltd.
National collaboration and engagement with the University of Malta, MCAST, Enemalta plc, the Energy and Water Agency, Xjenza Malta and other stakeholders helped translate research outcomes into practical benefits for Malta’s energy sector, educational institutions and wider economy.
Particularly valuable was the contribution of the hosts of the PROMISE Living Laboratories, whose cooperation enabled research-grade monitoring, testing and technology validation on operational photovoltaic installations across Malta.
These collaborations have helped establish a foundation for continued research excellence, technical skills development and innovation beyond the project’s lifetime.
Further Recognition for TRANSIT
Alongside PROMISE’s winning achievement, FiR.mt was also pleased to see its TRANSIT initiative nominated in a separate category at the National Supporting Business Awards 2026.
The nomination provides further recognition of FiR.mt’s broader activities in supporting research, innovation, knowledge exchange and sustainable development.
Together, PROMISE and TRANSIT demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to connecting scientific research with practical applications and long-term benefits for Malta and Europe.
Recognising the People and Partnerships Behind PROMISE
FiR.mt extends its sincere appreciation to the entire FiR.mt team, all PROMISE consortium partners, the hosts of the Living Laboratories, researchers, collaborators and national stakeholders whose dedication and contributions made this achievement possible.
The Foundation gratefully acknowledges the European Commission and the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme for funding PROMISE, enabling international scientific collaboration, the development of lasting research infrastructure and significant investment in research and technical capacity building.
FiR.mt also thanks Mr Godwin Mifsud, Permanent Secretary, and Mr Godwin Warr, Director General (Commerce), together with the Commerce Department and the award organisers, for their contributions to the ceremony and for recognising initiatives that support Malta’s sustainable development and innovation ecosystem.
This national award is a recognition not only of PROMISE’s achievements, but also of the importance of sustained investment in research, innovation, international collaboration and people.
FiR.mt remains committed to building upon these achievements, advancing research for humanity and contributing to a more sustainable, resilient and innovative Malta, Mediterranean region and Europe.
About PROMISE
PROMISE — Photovoltaics Reliability Operations and Maintenance Innovative Solutions for Energy Alliance — was coordinated by The Foundation for Innovation and Research – Malta (FiR.mt) and funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement No. 101079469.
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