Innovation ‘must be seen as a national commitment’ – Shadow Minister Jerome Caruana Cilia

Malta’s innovation and technology sectors must be treated as a “national commitment,” Shadow Minister for the Economy and Enterprise Jerome Caruana Cilia said, addressing participants at Ctrl+Esc Malta 2025 – an international conference featuring insights from technology leaders such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.

The event, currently being held at the Astrales Grand Hall in Qawra, is designed to empower IT professionals in security, on-prem, hybrid and cloud infrastructure, networking and end-user computing.

Dr Caruana Cilia and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti addressed attendees on Friday (today) morning.

Dr Caruana Cilia described the event as a reflection of Malta’s digital journey, from its early days in computing to its evolution into a hub for innovative businesses. Over the years, he noted, strong public-private partnerships have helped build an ICT ecosystem that supports multiple industries and enables local enterprises to compete globally.

Recalling a milestone agreement signed two decades ago between Microsoft and the Maltese Government, Dr Caruana Cilia highlighted how such collaborations have laid the groundwork for the country’s digital progress.

“Technology is no longer a standalone sector but an integral part of everything we do,” he said. “However, while our economy continues to expand, our talent pool is not keeping pace. If we continue to rely solely on labour force growth, we risk reaching a ceiling.”

The Shadow Minister stressed the importance of prioritising automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics across all sectors to secure Malta’s long-term competitiveness and productivity. He called for stronger incentives to encourage technological investment and reduce the economy’s dependence on labour-driven growth.

“We must shift the national conversation towards smarter growth – one driven by automation, innovation, and knowledge,” he continued. “Education will be key to this transition. We need to move beyond exam-based learning and build digital literacy from an early age.”

Dr Caruana Cilia described platforms such as Ctrl+Esc Malta as “vital” for fostering collaboration between educators, professionals, and industry leaders.

“Innovation must be seen as a national commitment,” he concluded. “Both public and private investment in technology and research must remain strong and sustained.”

In his own address, Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti described Ctrl+Esc Malta as a “statement of intent”, positioning the country alongside global innovators and technology giants.

“This platform enables our professionals to engage with the ideas shaping the digital world of today and tomorrow,” he said. “Technology, after all, is not just about systems – it is about people.”