Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this week pledged that if elected to government, the Opposition would set up a fund in the form of joint venture capital involving the public and private sectors, so that projects in science, research and innovation would be given more opportunity to enter the commercial market for more competitiveness in the sector.

Dr Muscat was speaking during a visit to the Malta Council for Science and Technology at Villa Bighi.

Such an initiative, he said, would help the creation of quality jobs, adding that Labour would continue to strengthen the Council where needed.

Dr Muscat said research already being carried out at the University of Malta and MCAST needed to be put to better use and a new Labour government would reduce bureaucracy in the area.