Technical assistance to Restructuring companies in Malta

client: Malta Enterprise and Malta Science and Technology Council.

IPSE(now Malta Enterprise) for the Promotion of the industrial sector is the Government Agency for Development of the Small and Medium Enterprises. IPSE had Corporate Solutions SA, with a contract financed by the European Commission, assisting its management with enterprise support programme development, implementation and evaluation.

IPSE has a wide range of programmes to assist entrepreneurs, small and medium companies, ranging from a series of business incubators and innovation centres to export development, consulting, training and IT support programmes.

The second Technical Assistance programme was part of an ESF programme (structural funds) for training SMEs on innovation and technology. Several trainings were held for consultants and SMEs as part of a larger programmes to survey innovation management and start an e-business portal on this issue.

Corporate Solutions SA deployed full-time an experienced expert to IPSE for 18 months. This advisor is assisting with the strategic planning process for the Agency, working hand in hand with the chief executive of the management team. It also had four experts as short terms advisors.

An incubator programme for exporters is being implemented according to EC practices on SME Innovation. As a EU candidate country then, Malta is followed closely EC practices and programmes for Enterprise and economic development. The foreign expert is therefore helping liase with different EC support programmes, including the participation in projects and programmes – such as the SME and R&D Framework Programmes.