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Smart City @ Malta  Commentary
News, views, plans and progress

  • Summary
  • SmartCity@Malta will be the largest ever private sector ICT project, foreign direct investment and new source of knowledge-based jobs in Malta. It will transform a run-down Ricasoli industrial estate into a knowledge-worker's dream city with all amenities.
  • ...you only need two kinds of people to create a technology
    hub: rich people and nerds...
    - How to Be Silicon Valley. More

  • Attention RICH people: NERDS available!
  • We guys at 3amSystems can help your Malta venture reach a critical mass and become a center of excellence in your global network. We are available to take on board your proposals and even join your local team. If you are a venture capital firm, you may be interested in our R&D pipeline of innovative project ideas. And we have global work experience and proven project execution capability. Interested? Get in touch.

  • Facts and figures
  • $300 million investment on 358,000 sqm.
  • 5,600 job target, of which 65% will be in ICT.
  • $3 billion estimated real-estate development value.

  • [Data from MITI]

  • SmartCity@Malta Timeline
  • 23-Feb'06 - Advanced framework discussions between TECOM Investments and Maltese Government announced, citing the SmartCity@Malta moniker. More
  • 29-Mar'06 - Heads of agreement signed. More
  • 16-May'06 - The TECOM-DIG consortium acquires a 60% controlling stake in MaltaCom, the national telephony company. More
  • 27-Nov'06 - Negotiations intensity and a few Maltese-Arab sparks fly. Bombshells dropped but shared cultural heritage keeps fire at bay. More
  • 2007
  • 22-Jan'07 - Successful conclusion to talks on SmartCity@Malta: Cabinet approves agreement framework. More
  • 5-Mar'07 - SmartCity master plan finalised and presented in Parliament. More
  • 8-Mar'07 - KPMG issues advisory document: 'Socio-economic impact assesment of the SmartCity (Malta) project'. More
  • 20-Mar'07 - Unanimous approval after discussion in parliament. More
  • 21-Mar'07 - TECOM, Sama Dubai to jointly create 'SmartCity' clusters worldwide. More
  • 24-Apr'07 - Deed and final investment agreement signed. More
  • 10-Sep'07 - Master Plan for SmartCity Malta unveiled at Dubai's Gitex exhibition. More
  • 15-Sep'07 - Chris Cole appointed Chief Operating Officer. More
  • 11-Oct'07 - Preparation for demolition at SmartCity site begins. More
  • 2008
  • 12-Feb'08 - SmartCity Malta showcased at Business Park 2008. More
  • 18-Apr'08 - SmartCity Malta promoted at OutsourceWorld London. More
  • 1-Jun'08 - SmartCity Malta reaches out to Maltese Educators. More
  • 14-Jun'08 - First phase of SmartCity Malta launched. More
  • 30-Jun'08 - SmartCity Kochi finalises land agreement. More
  • 4-Sep'08 - SmartCity presents energy-efficiency assessments. More
  • 6-Oct'08 - MEPA approves SmartCity development permits. More
  • 20-Oct'08 - SmartCity promotes Malta & Kochi at GITEX 2008. More
  • 22-Oct'08 - SmartCity rectifies interview procedures. More
  • 9-Nov'08 - SmartCity Malta gets personalised postcode. More
  • 16-Nov'08 - AD briefed about SmartCity Malta. More
  • 19-Nov'08 - SmartCity Malta / BV joint venture as SCM01 general contractor. More
  • 24-Nov'08 - SmartCity postpone Ground Breaking ceremony. More
  • 27-Nov'08 - SmartCity Malta starts reaching out to parents. More
  • 2009
  • 14-Jan'09 - Board of directors approves SmartCity marketing plan. More
  • 8-Feb'09 - First SmartCity Malta office space ready in 2010. More
  • 11-Mar'09 - SmartCity Malta presented to Malta’s Honorary Consuls. More
  • 27-Aug'09 - Construction of SmartCity Malta on track. More
  • 28-Sep'09 - SmartCity Malta CEO resigns More
  • 8-Oct'09 - SmartCity excavation works approved by MEPA More
  • 12-Oct'09 - SmartCity Malta works 'expected to accelerate in coming months' More
  • 15-Oct'09 - SmartCity Malta to host first tenants next year More
  • 17-Oct'09 - Intervista ma Fareed Abdulrahman fuq l-Orizzont (in Maltese) More
  • 2010
  • 9-Mar'10 - SmartCity Malta project is on time (with video) More
  • 24-Apr'10 - SCM01 final roof slab complete More
  • 24-May'10 - TECOM promotes SmartCity Malta in Dubai More

  • Future milestones
  • Dec-2010 - Completion of 8% of the office space and welcoming the first tenants.
  • Dec-2015 - Completion of the ICT and media business park.
  • Dec-2021 - Completion of the commercial and residential projects.

  • The Mater Dei Hospital, here included for comparative purposes, shares
    a similar footprint with the Commercial part of the SmartCity project.

    [Data from MITI]

  • Artistic impressions

  • A place to work,

    a place to live,

    a place to party!

    [Images from MITI]

  • Places

  • Malta in Europe

    SmartCity in Malta
    Ricasoli
    Ricasoli industrial estate

    The land ear-marked for the SmartCity development was home to the derelict Ricasoli industrial estate, where a handful of factories were still operating and had to be relocated.

    Ricasoli is also adjacent to the Mediterranean Film Studios. These handle projects ranging from blockbuster films to low budget features, television series, commercials and music videos. One of their large water tanks can be seen towards the top-left of the image.


    [Images from Google Maps]

  • Related business/technology news
  • 11-Nov'06 - 550 new jobs in Malta from Lufthansa Technik AG. More
  • 2007
  • 27-Apr'07 - HSBC UK to invest €7 million in Malta call centre. More
  • 12-Jul'07 - Into the club - The euro prepares to take in Malta and Cyprus. More
  • 9-Aug'07 - Malta woos technology wanderers. More
  • 8-Sep'07 - 6pm Holdings plc plans IPO. More
  • 4-Oct'07 - How the euro and technology are changing an island economy. More
  • 27-Oct'07 - Malta termed as 'this year's surprise Smart21 community'. More
  • 25-Nov'07 - Microsoft Corporation offers internships to Maltese ICT students. More
  • 28-Nov'07 - International conference in Malta to discuss IPTV. More
  • 2008
  • 1-Jan'08 - Cyprus and Malta adopt the Euro. More
  • 22-Jan'08 - Marine engineering cluster MARSEC-XL signs on Navico and MTU. More
  • 5-Feb'08 - General election 2008 set for March 8th. More
  • 23-Feb'08 - Malta scoops awards for best short haul conference destination. More
  • 10-Mar'08 - Malta's PM wins close re-election. More
  • 14-Mar'08 - I.E.E.E. International Symposium (ISCCSP 2008) to be held in Malta. More
  • 9-Sep'08 - Malta's ICT usage for enterprise top in Europe. More
  • 15-Nov'08 - FOI holds conference on quality in business. More
  • 20-Nov'08 - Malta can take advantage of global crisis through ICT. More
  • 2009
  • 19-Feb'09 - Reduced auditing and reporting requirements for SMEs. More
  • 14-May-'09 - University students to benefit from new ICT facilities. More
  • 4-Jun-'09 - Malta’s trade and investment promoted in Dubai. More
  • 27-Aug-'09 - President addresses Malta-Qatar business forum. More