Author: SME Chamber

The Malta Business Awards is an annual event that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of companies and individuals in Malta’s business community. The awards are given in a variety of categories, such as Best Start-Up, Best Small Business, Best Medium-Sized Business, Best Large Business, and Entrepreneur of the Year. The awards are intended to promote excellence and innovation in the Maltese business sector and to encourage companies to strive for the highest standards of performance.

In 2022, one company shone and stood out from the rest by taking more than one award: it’s Lottoland. The Green Ambassador award was one of them.

Lottoland won the Green ambassador award in 2022

Green Ambassador is a certification program that recognizes businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability. The program, which is run by the Malta Business Bureau, assesses businesses in areas such as energy efficiency, waste management, and environmental impact. Businesses that meet the program’s criteria are awarded the Green Ambassador Business certification, which is valid for two years. The certification helps companies stand out in the marketplace, as they can show their commitment to sustainability. Additionally, the certification can also help companies to save money by reducing their environmental impact and to access new business opportunities. It is important to note that similar programs may exist in other countries as well. Lottoland, an online lottery provider that offers the chance to Bet on the outcome of Mega Millions in Malta, took home three trophies and was the biggest winner of the night. These included first places in the categories of Exceptional Wellbeing sponsored by GCS and Carbon Neutral Commitment award sponsored by Malta International Airport, as well as the runner-up for the Best CSR initiative sponsored by the Ministry for Social Policy. Lottoland became the first iGaming business to be certified carbon-neutral last year. Over 2 million trees have been planted by the world’s leading online lottery operator, Lottoland. This includes a thousand trees in Malta with the local NGO Saggar.

 

Lottoland believes that, together with their Maltese customers, they are taking decisive actions to create a better environment that allows people, animals, and the environment to flourish. In fact, the company established a foundation to make a positive difference in all the communities in which it operates. In the coming days, Lottoland will renew its partnership with Nature Trust Malta’s Wildlife Rescue Team.

 

Green ambassador award subcategories

 

Innovative Climate Solution

supported by APS Bank

This award recognizes a green initiative that addresses climate change. This nomination is for an innovative solution to a greener environment.

 

Best Waste Reduction Strategy

supported by Wasteserv

This award recognizes businesses that have taken steps to reduce, reuse, or recycle waste within their company. It also acknowledges those who have attempted to comply with environmental laws. The Selection Committee will look for businesses that can demonstrate how they have contributed to the reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste.

 

Green Transport Initiative

supported by the Foundation for Transport

This award recognizes businesses that have taken initiatives to promote smart and sustainable transport. The Selection Committee will look for businesses that inspire others with their efforts to improve transport efficiency while also contributing to and benefitting the company.

 

Leader in Sustainable Initiatives

supported by the Energy and Water Agency

This award recognizes the most significant initiative or change made by an enterprise that has improved its product/service efficiency or overall sustainability. The business must be considered sustainable after its implementation. The Selection Committee will look for businesses that have implemented a sustainable initiative that has been beneficial to the business and does not compromise the quality of life of future generations.

 

Carbon Neutral Commitment Award

supported by Malta International Airport

This award recognizes any business that has taken a proactive step towards carbon neutrality. It is also economically feasible and profitable. Therefore, the Selection Committee will focus on businesses that have made a clear, measurable commitment to this goal.

 

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Did you know that the Malta Chamber of SMEs offers a number of advisory services on EU funds? Including advisory services on EU funds? We offer one-to-one meetings on schemes that are related to both EU and national funds. We can assist with schemes that are part of the recovery and resilience funds.

Contact us if you would like to receive further information via email at

Innovation is high on the agenda of SMEs looking into the future.   The highly disruptive and competitive times SMEs are operating in, make the adoption of digital capabilities and processes, indispensable. “Enterprise Innovation” aims to bring together companies that are seeking digitalisation solutions with companies that provide such services and products. The event’s agenda foresees a keynote address by the guest speaker from the European Innovation Management Academy in Germany and numerous case studies and inspirational testimonials by businesses that successfully adopted digitalisation practices to fuel their business growth.

The event will have two separate focuses: one targeting the more advanced manufacturing technologies whilst another session will hone in on digitalized commercial processes that could easily be integrated into the retail, hospitality, and tourism sectors, amongst others. Participants can visit the exhibition of services and products and set 1-to-1 meetings during the Brokerage Event in the second part of the day.

This event brings together a collection of Case Studies as well as introduces the attendees to a range of service providers of Industry 4.0 technologies to help implement their innovation vision…all under one roof.   This European Advanced Manufacturing Support Centre (ADMA) initiative helps SMEs assess the possibility of adopting both advanced manufacturing solutions as well as social innovation strategies. This would transform organizations towards next-generation factories with more competitive, modern, and sustainable production

The match-making session in the afternoon then brings together companies that are seeking effective solutions with the providers. This is a unique opportunity to generate new business contacts and leads. The model is time – and cost-efficient and results in business! Meetings will take place in a dedicated area and will be arranged in advance by means of this website.

Topics addressed?

• Data capture and processing
• Digital commerce
• Chatbots and augmented reality
• Industrial internet of things
• Machine learning
• Additive manufacturing

Why participate?

• As a solutions seeker – find qualified suppliers during effective one-to-one meetings
• As a service provider – find new customers and possibly showcase your offering in the Exhibits section
• As a product developer – find partners to discuss new technology and innovative solutions

How can you benefit from this event?

• Meet providers of new technologies
• Generate new business leads and find new clients
• Publish and showcase your products, projects, services or business needs to event participants
• Initiate and arrange promising pre-scheduled meetings at the event
• Generate fresh leads and meet new contacts in a time and cost-efficient way
• Stay one step ahead of your competitors by being seen and visibly present at the event

Click here to register

The SME Fund, a European Commission initiative implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has been launched once again this year and will run from 23 January 2023 to 8 December 2023. Funds are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

The SME Fund offers financial support to SMEs established in the European Union. The application can be filed by an owner, an employee or an authorised representative of an EU SME acting on its behalf.

In this regard, the Commerce Department is collaborating with the EUIPO to offer financial support/grants to those SMEs by providing 75% reimbursement of trademark and design fees at EU and national level. The grant consists of a partial reimbursement of costs to the beneficiary, up to a maximum of €1,000 per beneficiary in the case of trademarks and designs. Vouchers related to patents are financed by the European Commission’s financial contribution, and the modalities are still being fine tuned.

Applicants can apply at any point in time from 23 January 2023 to 8 December 2023.

It is important to note that vouchers are not retroactive, costs for activities executed before getting the grant decision cannot be reimbursed.

Should all the funds be used before the end of the call submission period, the online application system (eForm) will be closed and applicants will be informed accordingly on the SME FUND website.

Applicants will need to click on https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/online-services/sme-fund and proceed with filling the relative application form. After receiving the voucher, the SME can apply for their trademark and/or design on https://ips.gov.mt/ or for an EU application on https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/apply-now and thereafter, for the reimbursement with the EUIPO.

More details can be found at: https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/online-services/sme-fund

An SME Barometer^® study

A study conducted by the Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with Misco among 237 business owners shows that 60% of SMEs in Malta in 2022 increased their total turnover when compared to the previous year. 22% replied that the turnover during 2022 remained the same and 17% replied that the turnover decreased when compared to 2021.

The main reasons for the increase in sales in 2022 were attributed to the “end of Covid-19 restrictions”, “more stability compared to 2021” and “more consumer confidence”, among others.

The survey which was part of the SME Barometer® was carried out between the 12th and 27th of January 2023 amongst business owners. The SME Barometer®  will present quarterly surveys which give insights through scientific data on economic trends, business sentiment and state of enterprises in Malta.

The press conference was addressed by SME Chamber President Mr Paul Abela, Vice-President Mr Marcel Mizzi, Deputy President Mr Philip Fenech and CEO Ms Abigail Agius Mamo and Misco founder Mr Lawrence Zammit.

According to the Business performance survey, 39% of the businesses reported that 2022 was better than 2019 as the pre Cov id period, 15% reported that 2022 was equivalent to 2019, 17% replied that 2022 was close to 2019 and 29% replied that 2022 was below 2019 or still far off from 2019.

Asked about their biggest concerns for the year, businesses said they were seriously concerned about the increases in costs in general, the increasing wage costs, labour and employees shortage, effects of Ukraine-Russia crisis and the energy prices, should subsidy stop, among others.

Refering to plans for 2023, 29% of the businesses replied they plan to stay the same while 21% replied they intend to expand your business in Malta.

Click here to view the Business Performance Survey results.

Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail Agius Mamo and Head of Policy Mr Andrew Aquilina met officials from the Malta Digital Innovation Authority – MDIA to discuss the foreseen changes to the legislation and plans ahead.

MDIA have recently launched the Mind the Gap scheme, targeted to enhance cyber resilience in digital commerce.

Click here to read more https://www.mdia.gov.mt/schemes/mind-the-gap/

The Malta Chamber of SMEs organised an online information session for its members about the Customs Malta new IT system as during 2023 the Customs department will be introducing changes in its IT systems which will bring about a number of changes to the current procedure.

The aim of this to achieve a paperless customs environment by 2025.

As part of The EU customs work programme shall see the implementation of all customs procedures using electronic data-processing techniques. A new coding system and new data requirements according to the EU Customs Data Model (EUCDM) shall feature in the new Automated Import System (AIS).

During this information session, the Malta Chamber of SMEs, together with the Customs Department highlighted these changes.

The 2023 annual competition for the WIPO Global Awards is searching for exceptional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of creators, inventors, and designers that are making smart use of intellectual property rights to achieve their business goals while also harnessing their innovation and creativity for the good of society.

The 2023 competition will run until the 31 March.

It is open to SMEs from around the world, active in all sectors of the economy – be that technology, agriculture, the creative industries or beyond, with applications using all forms of IP, ranging from copyright, to trademarks, patents, and geographical indications.

For further information, please visit the WIPO Global Awards website. https://www.wipo.int/global-awards/en/2023/