The cluster is structured on five pillars, which are inspired by five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This pillar supports the broader aims of Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for everyone. While public health is often associated with medicine and clinical care, engineering plays a pivotal and complementary role in advancing health outcomes. It drives the development of innovative medical technologies and materials, enhances systems for preventive care and enables personalised health solutions.
The Clean Energy Pillar will develop enabling technology bricks aimed at empowering and enhancing the required transition to cleaner, more sustainable and more efficient generation, distribution and use of energy, in its major forms and figures. It is driven by the vision of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), under its theme of “Affordable and Clean Energy”. The Pillar will serve and contribute to various national and international objectives, including Malta’s Energy and Climate Plan and the EU’s goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. As stated in Malta’s 2030, National Energy and Climate Plan, the national objective is to have an 11.5% share of renewable energy in the nation’s gross final energy consumption by 2030.
The third pillar is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 9 which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and fostering innovation. The aim of SDG 9 is to catalyse sustainable economic development by improving physical and digital infrastructure, supporting productive industries, and strengthening research and innovation systems. Infrastructure, industry, and innovation are considered interdependent pillars that form the backbone of modern economies. Without sustainable and inclusive growth in these areas, it is difficult for nations to achieve long-term prosperity, social equity, and environmental stewardship.
The Sustainable Cities and Communities pillar is inspired by Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), which calls on all to help build cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. As more people move into towns and cities around the world, the way we design and manage urban areas is becoming more important than ever. Our cities must work for everyone. That means making sure they are environmentally responsible, economically strong, and rich in culture and community. Through this pillar, the University of Malta aims to be a leader in shaping better urban futures, especially for small island states and Mediterranean countries, where space, resources, and climate pressures create unique challenges.
Aligned with the 12th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 12), this pillar focuses on sustainable consumption and production patterns, which are critical for achieving economic development that remains within planetary boundaries. This goal lies at the intersection of environmental stewardship, economic efficiency, and social responsibility and is considered a cross-cutting enabler for many other SDGs, including climate action (SDG 13), clean water (SDG 6), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). This pillar aims to study and promote sustainable practices along the entire lifecycle of products and services, from extraction and design to production, distribution, use, and disposal. These objectives are global in scope but can be locally interpreted and implemented depending on national contexts, capacities, and levels of development.
