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May 2006 24. May 2006 - The Malta Financial & Business Times

Power Engineering: Fusing environmental concerns with power supply

By Chev. Henry J. Borg President, German-Maltese Chamber of Commerce

Climate change, the conservation of natural resources and global sustainable development – all important challenges for the 21st century. Supplying the population with heat, power and fuel can no longer be guaranteed through traditional energy sources alone. This calls for alternatives such as renewable energy, which has rapidly developed in Germany. Nevertheless, the huge potential of renewable energy in Germany remains relatively untapped. IN 2002, renewable energy sources accounted for 7.6% of the electricity supply, 3.7% of the heat supply and only 0.8% of fuel consumption. This prompted the German government to set the target of doubling the proportion of renewable energy used by the power utilities to 12.5% by 2010. In the slightly longer term, the goal is to raise this percentage still further, to 20% by the year 2020. Over the long-term – by the middle of this century – those national economies that rely on renewable energy sources for at least 50% of their energy needs will reap the most benefits. Energy market deregulation and the European goal of significantly raising the proportion of renewable energy sources used in electricity generation will necessitate a substantial restructuring of Europe’s power grid. Research and development work is therefore focused heavily on the concept of decentralised generation with renewable sources such as wind power, biomass and solar energy, as well as small-scale combined hat and power (CHP) systems such as district heating power stations and stationary fuel cell units serving local communities. Besides the actual transformation process, particular attention is also being paid to power network integration and restructuring. In Europe, the deregulation of the energy market has led to striking adjustments by the major power utilities. New strategic approaches are already being implemented by these companies, including efforts to diversify into other supply activities and mergers with companies in related market sectors. For small companies and so-called independent power providers, this creates the opportunity to capture their own share of the market. These changing market dynamics are not only affecting the power generation industry, but also the electrical/electronics and machine-tools industries and the consulting sector. With their high degree of flexibility, even small and medium-sized enterprises have excellent prospects to serve the market effectively.

An Energetic approach to becoming a leader in fuel cell technology

The German region of Nordrhein-Westfalen (North-Rhine Westphalia) has put its longstanding tradition in the development and manufacture of energy products to excellent use, by making a name for itself in the hotly contested international race towards commercially viable fuel cell applications. Growing expertise in this field is directly reflected by relevant projects underway in the region. These have meanwhile climbed in number to 47 projects and a volume of €96 million, about half of which is publicly funded. Co-operation between universities and companies in the region has turned NRW into a European leader in the development of fuel cells, with significant activity in the relevant branches of industry such as mechanical and electrical engineering and electronics.

Stacks of ideas

Stacks and stack components are the focus of just one project among many being carried out for the most part by small and medium-sized companies. Other projects include work on:

 a portable 50 W fuel cell power supply for mobile office systems  a 5 kW fuel cell system for home power supply  a 700 bar hydrogen storage tank for passenger vehicles  hydrogen compressors and sensors . a 2.5 kW Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)  a 10 kW natural gas reformer for hydrogen production  a bi-directional AC/DC-inverter

Good catalysts

The network - one of the largest and most active of its kind in Europe - set out to pool and intensify efforts in fuel cell technology development. Its wide range of activities and events have made many companies in the region recognise the opportunities offered by this technology, encouraging expansion and the expecta- tion that the first fuel cell products “Made in NRW” will soon be ready for market in the short to medium term. Another good catalyst is the ZBT Centre for Fuel Cell Technology of Duisburg, where cooperation with industry focuses on development of fuel cell systems and reformers for the production of hydrogen.

Stepping up the current

The fast pace set by the work of the network and its 300 members has added real power to Nordrhein-Westfalen's growing reputation as a competent national and international partner in fuel cell technology. This is underscored through close cooperation with European partners and major players in the USA, Canada and Asia. The network is considered an important contributor to the region's attraction as an industrial location.

The GMCC would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Education & Research, VDI Technologiezentrum GMBH and the German Embassy in Malta for the information and resources for this article

April 2006 25. April 2006 - The Malta Financial & Business Times Mechatronics…Mechatronics…

As an interdisciplinary engineering science, mechatronics focuses on attaining the greatest achievable integration of mechanics, electronics and software within a single functional unit, with the goals of improving the performance of conventional systems and implementing entirely new functions. Since many of today’s technical systems would otherwise not be as powerful, information technology is playing an increasingly important role alongside the more traditional engineering disciplines. In contrast to the traditional sequential approach in product development, mechatronics aims at achieving integration through a simultaneous, holistic approach to all three disciplines during the entire development process (concurrent engineering), because this facilitates an optimal coordination of the disciplines involved in terms of the desired development results. Concurrent engineering is generally defined as the integrated design methodology and the integrated product, process and project planning in the development and manufacturing of mechatronic products. This is characterized by a parallel and highly networked planning and development process, as well as the utilization of powerful special tools that are part of tool families with the highest achievable level of universality. For this reason, the development and implementation of mechatronic systems in particular calls for inter-disciplinary training of engineers, methods and tools to achieve networked mechanical electrical and thermal system design, along with large-scale series manufacturing processes. Mechatronic products are omnipresent: industrial robots, machine tools, automobiles, aircraft, cameras, washing machnies and dishwashers provide just a few examples. Branches of industry with particular focus on mechatronics include mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, the aerospace industry, microsystems engineering, medical technology and the electrical and electronic industries. This prominence has made mechatronics in Germany a strategic issue, also in terms of employment policy, and emphasizes the need to strive for a leading global position in this field through extensive research and development efforts and to secure this position in the long term.

Competence in Mechatronics

The Göppingen Competence Network on Mechatronics has an approach which allows them to provide solutions for components, assemblies and subsystems in the face of greater miniaturization, higher packaging densities and increased complexity of logic and data-flow management. The products made by their partners are increasingly complex, even as they become more reliable and versatile and innovation cycles dictated by the market grow shorter. This scenario calls for concurrent and collaborative development; it also creates the opportunity to produce, adapt and refine successful solutions for new applications. Research efforts focus on new fields of application and solutions for industrial practice, but equal emphasis is placed on basic research. Their industrial relationship network of world-ranking companies along with their suppliers of hardware and software, construction engineering and project planning (see www.mechatronik-ev.de for more details) includes further high-performance partners from the services sector, research and education, and regional agencies. These members may function as idea providers, conduct basic research in new areas of technology, or act as contact points. They also support SMEs, promote new business startups and link together the partners and their expertise in individual projects or on a long-term basis through new approaches, ideas and projects.

Trained by Industry, fit for Industry

Mechatronics Plus, which has been operational for a number of years, offers a 21/2-year apprenticeship within a five-year degree course that combines industrial training with academic learning. The programme enables students to acquire both a trade proficiency certificate and a university degree in only five years, and is supported by the following network members: Goppingen Vocational School, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen (Goppingen campus), Stuttgart Chamber of Industry and Commerce (lHK), Goppingen, and industrial enterprises. The demand for skilled professionals capable of developing tomorrow's innovative products, with their growing emphasis on mechatronic components, can only be met through qualifications with a strong practical orientation. The future mechatronics experts therefore need a thorough grounding in the theoretical aspects of engineering, alongside systems knowledge and team skills acquired through direct contact with industrial practice. After basic training, specialization is offered in automation, electronics, precision engineering, or microsystems engineering - but still with a sharp focus on the interdisciplinary technology of mechatronics.

The GMCC would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Education & Research, VDI Technologiezentrum GMBH and the German Embassy in Malta for the information and resources for this article.

Malta Independent Thursday 23rd March 2006

German trainee lawyers in Malta

German trainee lawyers from the Higher Regional Court in Munich have just concluded a week-long visit to Malta as part of an educational trip to European countries to study, analyse and experience foreign legal and constitutional systems.

This visit was facilitated by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in collaboration with the German-Maltese Chamber of Commerce.

During their stay, the German trainee lawyers met Anton Tabone, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, the Notary to Government, and the Gozo Business Chamber. They were also given a presentation by Bank of Valletta.

During the visit at the House of Representatives, Mr Tabone briefed the German lawyers on the duties and functions of the Maltese House of Representatives. He referred to the Standing Orders of the House and the important work performed by the Standing Committees, highlighting the heavy workload of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee which, amongst other duties, deals with EU legislation.

In Gozo, the German lawyers discussed the challenges faced by a small island with the Hon. Minister for Gozo as well as with a delegation from the Gozo Business Chamber.

The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Justice & Home Affairs welcomed the delegation at the Ministry, where he explained the Maltese judicial system, and answered various questions regarding the operation of the Maltese Courts.

The German Ambassador, Georg Merten and German-Maltese Chamber of Commerce President Chev. Henry J. Borg accompanied the German trainee lawyers during these visits.

March 2006 22. March 2006 - The Malta Financial & Business Times GermanGerman MaritimeMaritime TechnologiesTechnologies && MaltaMalta

A highly innovative range of products is the trademark of the maritime economy in Germany – a natural link for Malta and its maritime tradition. German shipyards and their suppliers are renowned for specialist shipbuilding and technological solutions. These shipyards produce a wide range of special vessels, including container and passenger ships, ferries, roll-on/roll-off ships, and special tankers. There is further potential for innovation here, particularly with regard to greater cost-effectiveness and safety, optimum eco-friendliness, adaptation to new transport tasks and the integration of shipping in intermodal transport chains. New surges in demand for offshore technology can be expected, not least because of the opening up of further oil and gas reserves. Growth areas include drilling technology, gas technology, materials technology, maritime technologies for ice-covered areas, underwater technology, and maritime environmental engineering, for instance in connection with the disposal of maritime facilities and disused offshore platforms. Aquaculture and offshore wind farms offer further growth potential. The maritime industry is highly important to the national economy of both countries. About 60% of Germany’s exports leave by sea, as well as imports of raw materials reach it by the same means. With €9.2 billion worth of sales and 49,000 employees, shipping is Germany’s largest operating maritime sector. The second and third largest sectors are the maritime supply industry (€8.2 billion in sales and 70,000 employees) and shipbuilding (€4 billion in sales and 27,000 employees) respectively. In each sector, exports account for two-thirds f sales. The economic importance of maritime business is not restricted to the coastal regions. The supply industry – which is responsible for about 70% of the added value in shipbuilding – is to be found in all federal states, but particularly in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and North-Rhine Westphalia. Germany’s efficiency in maritime technologies is due not least to excellent education and research. The acquisition of contracts in the face of East Asian competition is only possible through technological leadership. Research is an essential part of product development in the numerous fields of marine and ocean technologies. Cooperation between science and industry is promoted by the Association for Marine Technologies (GMT) and the Centre for Maritime Technology (CMT). German shipyards provide a wide range of vocational training, and are the main providers of training opportunities in their respective regions. Seven universities offer courses in marine technology, namely Kiel, Hamburg, Bremen, Rostock, Berlin, Hanover and Braunschweig.

Aims, implementation, and success in the Maritime Allianz Ostseeregion e.V. network

The strengths of the network lie in developing the system competence of small and medium-sized companies and furthering their cooperation with major firms. The aim is to achieve technological leadership in market sectors characterised by a high level of untapped opportunity, and to ensure efficient exploitation of new R&D potential in the network. This has made it possible to build up and extend competitive advantages that serve to establish a unique market position.

Selected examples

 R&D work on the active rudder; featuring an output of 2000 kW in conjunction with the combined main drive and onboard power systems.  Development of an innovative fibre composite material, including its processing technology, to meet the requirements of B 15 certification in shipbuilding.  Research and development of a RPN (Risk Priority Number) procedure for monitoring risks in systems produced in small numbers.

For some time now, success in shipbuilding on the growing world market has not been decided by the quantity of constructed steel, but by the technologies employed. Without permanent and precise agreement between all partners involved in the production process, however; the development, production, and constant optimization of complex maritime systems is impossible. One of the aims of Maritime Allianz is therefore to achieve strategic cooperation between final producers and suppliers along the value-added chain. This, among other things, is what characterizes our approach.

The GMCC would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Education & Research, VDI Technologiezentrum GMBH and the German Embassy in Malta for the information and resources for this article. v

February 2006 22. February 2006 - The Malta Financial & Business Times Genome Research in Germany

Genome research has led to an explosive expansion of our knowledge of the basis of life, and the genomes of many organisms have recently been elucidated. Genome research in Germany is almost exclusively supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through four complementary programmes: The National Genome Research Network (human), GABI (plants), GenoMik (microorganisms) and FUGATO (productive livestock) which was launched in 2004. These programmes cover the most important fields of research. Research findings have resulted in wide range of new applications in diverse fields. The enormous potential of genome research involves different approaches, such as in the development of new drugs and treatments for prevalent diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, improvements in molecular diagnostic techniques, vaccine research and promising biological manufacturing processes. Genome research is helping to remove harmful agents from the environment, and also contributes to sustainable agriculture through bacteria that encourage crop growth and molecular biology-based strategies aimed at protecting crops. Finally, the immense input generated in decoding a genome, and the corresponding data management required, calls for continual optimisation and further development of the appropriate technology. The conversion of scientific findings from genome research to innovative products and processes is particularly important for certain industry sectors. This is especially true of medicine, pharmacology, biotechnology, environmental technology, agriculture and nutrition. Genome research has – together with biotechnology – led to the formation of many new companies in the recent years. Many of these focus on providing services for the pharmaceutical industry, for the development of biotechnological processes, and in related information technology. Despite a decline in the number of new companies being founded, attributable to the generally weak economy, many notable successes have been achieved, such as the marked increase in the number of new drugs that are undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials.

Accumulation of GFP-positive cells around a growing collateral artery: alpha-actin is in red, GFP in green, and the nucleus in blue. © Max-Planck-Institut für physiologische und klinische Forschung

The required expertise in this research field can be acquired through university courses in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology, molecular medicine, bioinformatics, agricultural science and forestry. Technical colleges and major industrial companies offer training opportunities for assistants in chemistry and biology laboratories as well as in diverse technical fields, where a growing demand for their skills has been registered.

Harnessing the riches of biodiversity

The Gottingen competence network for genome research on bacteria specialises in microorganisms of potential interest to biotechnology

The controlled use of microorganisms in the industrial manufacture of enzymes is a technology that holds immense promise for the future. The Gottingen competence network specializes in research into these and other bacteria and archaebacteria of interest to industry. After identifying a suitable microorganism, the researchers start by sequencing its genome and then move on to analyzing its functions. By carefully studying its metabolic processes, they gain knowledge that could be of great value if the microorganism is later employed in industrial production, since this will allow more accurate control over the process and greater yields. The microorganisms being studied by this network - G/uconobacter oxydans, Bacillus /icheniformis, Bacillus amy/o/iquefaciens, Ra/stonia eutropha, Clostridium /jungdahlii and Picrophilus torridus - are now at various stages of functional genome analysis.

Functional genome analysis of Bacillus lichenformis (ring-shaped) genome sequence, complete-genome DNA microarray (right), proteome analysis (left).

Enzymes for laundry detergents

Bacillus licheniformis is used in the production of proteases, a type of enzyme added to laundry detergents as a stain remover. Its ring-shaped genome has been completely sequenced, so we now know that it consists of 4.22 million base pairs. Researchers have meanwhile succeeded in allocating specific functions to many of the 4000 genes they represent. DNA microarrays developed by the research group led by Or. Ehrenreich in Gottingen are now being used by three other working groups (led by Prof. Hecker and Prof. V61ker at the University of Greifswald and Dr. Maurer at Henkel KGaA respectively) to obtain a more precise characterization of the microorganism's regulatory networks. This work includes determining the transcriptome and proteome shifts, i.e. changes in the expression of messenger RNA and enzymes that take place when it is transferred from a simple to a complex culture medium (see picture). The groups are also analyzing the organism's response to various forms of stress and deprivation, with the aim of identifying those factors that have an effect on enzyme secretion and other characteristics of B. licheniformis in an industrial production environment. Other projects involve possible candidates for the production of basic chemicals from synthetic gas, or studying the protein expression of extremophilic bacteria with a view to testing their resistance to extreme environmental conditions.

January 2006

18. January 2006 - The Malta Financial & Business Times

Education & Training in Germany: Europe’s next move

The battle for Europe’s future prosperity has become, in essence, a matter of international rivalry in terms of the quality of education. Educational policy-makers have taken up the issue in the debate on harmonization of teaching standards and comparative performance ratings. Other vital issues include equal opportunities – with a focus on special teaching for highly gifted children and greater help for children with learning difficulties – as well as the challenges of the information society, with emphasis on the use of new media in education and the necessity of lifelong learning.

The education system in Germany is shaped by a democratic process that gives each particular State complete legislative autonomy over its own schools. Voluntary cooperation among the different States takes place through the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education & Cultural Affairs (KMK). A similar scheme also exists at university level, where the Association of Universities and Other Higher Education Institutions in Germany (HRK) serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas. These activities are coordinated on a national level by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Reforms are initiated at both the national and regional level. A couple of years ago, the Federal Government launched a major investment programme, under which, the States started receiving a total of €4 billion (spread over 5 years to 2007) to implement plans for all-day schooling (in Germany it still common for pupils to start and end classes at different times each day, with no provision for supervision if there is a gap between classes). The education market is not limited to schools and universities. Ongoing career education also plays a role, and the number of qualified private-sector providers of professional training continues to rise. In order to bring a more practical, real world orientation to education and training, efforts are being made to promote networking and cooperation between academia and the industrial and business world. Many such initiatives have already been implemented. Education is of universal benefits to all levels of society. A typical example is the need to know how to make the best use of today’s available information resources. Lifelong learning enables the level of professional qualifications to keep up with technological and social changes, and is therefore of vital importance to Europe’s status in a globalised world.

Teaching Young People to Build The Future

Teachers and lecturers often find it hard to persuade their pupils and students to take a serious interest in classwork. The TheoPrax network in Germany allows classes to take part in real-life practical projects as an integral part of the teaching syllabus. Great interest has been manifested in this teaching and learning method on the part of all participants, for there are benefits to be gained all round. All in all, the TheoPrax network has successfully completed over 230 projects dealing with a wide variety of different topics. Various sources of funding have permitted them to organise numerous projects involving collaboration with professional scientists.

Education is knowledge and action

A taste of serious science

Over 70 pupils from 6 different schools spent more than two years in a programme for young engineers sponsored by the Krupp Foundation. They worked together with the Institute for Polymer Testing and Polymer Science at the University of Stuttgart, the company TECNARO in Eisenach, and the Fraunhofer Institute in Pfillztal. An even larger-scale project was launched in September 2003 under the aus- pices of the German research ministry's new materials research program MaTech, with the aim of networking school education and materials research. So far; over 100 young people from schools in five regions of Germany have been able to work alongside researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute on numerous aspects of materials research (including polymer fuel cells and polymer batteries, microreactors, ceramic-forming elastomers, nanoparticles, crystallisation, fibre-composite materials). This project also aims to produce teaching modules for the subject of materials science and seeks to define general conditions under which schoolchildren can take part in research projects.

Highly regarded certificate

At the conclusion of each project, a project report is submitted to the customer (or sponsor) and often student's work is assessed on a points system. All students also receive a TheoPrax certificate, stating details of their particular project. These certificates are highly regarded by potential employers, being issued with the respective logos of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the TheoPrax Foundation, and now also kompetenznetze.de.

December 2005

11. December 2005 - Sunday Times St John Rescue Corps receives German equipment

St John rescue corps volunteers register and off-load equipment donated by the Director of Civil Defence of the city of Mainz in Germany

The St John Rescue Corps has received another donation of civil defence equipment items from the civil defence authorities of the city of Mainz, in Germany. The Corps has a very special relationship with Mainz, from which it received the first shipment of equipment and technical items which enabled the Corps to commence its operations in Malta in 1991.

The container was shipped to Malta by Jürgen Franz, director of civil defence of Mainz, fully sponsored by the German transhipment and freight handlers ITG GmbH. Vincent Micallef and Christopher Mangion of Cassar & Cooper (S&I) Ltd made all the necessary arrangements to safeguard the safe transit of the equipment from Mainz to the Corps' headquarters at Fort Maddalena in Madliena, together with haulage company Miksons Transport Co Ltd.

The logistics on the part of the St John Rescue Corps were co-ordinated by Deputy Corps Commander, Capt. Reuben Lanfranco.

Marquis Anthony Buttigieg De Piro, the Corps Commander, expressed his gratitude to Malta's consul-general in Mainz, Senator Schultheiss, who arranged with ITG in Germany and Cassar and Cooper in Malta, to co-ordinate the free transportation of the equipment.

Writing to Mr Franz, Marquis Buttigieg De Piro thanked him and the civil defence authorities of Mainz, and also wholeheartedly thanked Henry Borg, president of the German- Maltese Chamber of Commerce.

In recognition of his close co-operation and significant contribution to the Corps, Mr Franz was appointed president of the Judo Association Division of the St John Rescue Corps in 1992, the predecessor of the Cliff Rescue Division.

Through the intervention of Professor Walter G. Rödel, a Knight Commander of Justice of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the (German) chivalric order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Johanniterorden, the Corps initially received a significant amount of equipment and uniforms from the director of civil defence of Mainz.

This donation helped the Corps to start its operations and training programme. It was through the influence of the Lord Mayor of Mainz that Marquis Buttigieg De Piro could take with him, over a five-year period, three groups of 30 officers and leaders of the St John Rescue Corps to the Federal German Civil Defence Staff Training School in Ahrweiler, Germany. The Ahrweiler Training School is very realistically staged with disaster areas, and the most recent sophisticated rescue equipment.

Professor Rödel, a long-standing supporter of the Rescue Corps, is president of the Arms, Armour and Militaria Society Division, a Reserve Division of the Corps.

Unlike the St John Ambulance Brigade (First Aid and Nursing), whose task is to give first aid at public functions, gatherings and in cases of national emergencies, the mission statement of the Rescue Corps is to "provide a uniformed voluntary corps of organised and fully trained adults, able to carry out rescue operations and first aid efficiently. They are to be prepared to go into action as an individual unit, in support of the constituted authorities of the Maltese Islands, when officially called upon by them, in case of major national calamities such as earthquakes, war, major air crashes, floods, and so forth".

The Corps is based at Fort Maddalena, a late 19th century British fort loaned by the government. The Corps is an organisation run on the lines of a Maltese paramilitary unit and is divided into divisions.

There is no regular paid support for the Rescue Corps. It is entirely composed of highly dedicated, unpaid, part-time volunteers. The organisation is made up of regular volunteers and reservists.

The Rescue Corps is not funded or supported by any entity or organisation. While it has managed to secure a number of donations over the years, it does not receive a regular income budget from any source.

The St John Rescue Corps was officially asked to be on active stand-by and on full alert in case of emergency at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Malta. November 2005

November 2005

03. November 2005 - The Malta Business Weekly

01. November 2005 - TheMalta Independent

02. November 2005 - The Malta Financial & Business imes