TECH. IDEAS. BUSINESS.
Fighting financial crime with AI: FIAU's vision for the future
As regulatory demands grow more complex, technology has become indispensable for ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counterfinancing of terrorism (CFT) regulations. The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) advocates for advanced solutions like machine learning and AI to navigate the challenges of data analysis, transaction monitoring, and identity verification.
Empowering merchants with BOV MobilePOS: A leap towards cashless society
As digital payment solutions evolve, BOV mobilePOS stands at the forefront of this transformation. This innovative SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) technology, recently introduced to the local market by Bank of Valletta, offers merchants a seamless and cost-effective way to accept contactless payments.
From Malta to Silicon Valley: Inside the world of startup investing
From Malta's traditional business environment to the forefront of global tech investment, Adrian Galea has spent over a decade navigating the complexities of venture capital. His story provides a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of supporting innovative startups.
Digital identity wallets: Paving the way for smarter governance
JP Fabri probes how Malta can leverage digital identity technology to enhance public services, streamline processes, and position itself as a leader in digital governance.
The AI edge: Why your business can't afford to ignore it
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and redefining how businesses operate. From automating tasks to assisting decision-making, AI offers tremendous benefits. However, many companies are struggling to keep up with the rapid advancements. Richard Muscat Azzopardi explores the right and wrong ways to integrate AI tools, ensuring you stay competitive.
Beyond the buzzwords
Maurizio Mamo, CEO of 4Sight Group, has been at the forefront of Malta and Cyprus' digital transformation journeys. From helping businesses transition from legacy systems to the cloud to navigating the complexities of international expansion, Mamo's approach is simple: technology must serve the company, not the other way around.
The lost ‘Smart Island’ generation
Malta set out to become the "Smart Island" seventeen years ago, envisioning a future where innovation and a highly educated workforce would rule. Manuel Delia reflects on this ambition, highlighting the generation now struggling with educational inequalities and falling short of basic academic benchmarks.
From buzz to impact: Malta's AI future
Theo Dix examines how Malta has demonstrated that small nations can have a significant digital footprint. As AI evolves from buzz to reality, Malta's agility, rather than massive datasets, positions it uniquely to lead the AI transformation. A strategic focus on education, infrastructure, and data ecosystems will be key to its success.
Poking sticks into holes
The government's Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (CVDP) proposal aims to create a legal framework for ethical hackers. This comes after a controversial case involving four students who exposed a vulnerability in a popular app, raising questions about the fine line between cybersecurity and criminal prosecution. Vanessa Macdonald delves into what led up to this.
Innovation or optics? Malta's Medtech challenge
Can Malta's Medtech ecosystem evolve beyond visibility and deliver long-term innovation? To explore this, TECHMAG sat down with Dr Dylan Attard, founder and CEO of MedTech World, to understand his vision for the future of Malta's Medtech landscape.
MALTA’S LARGEST DIGITAL ALLIANCE FORMED
Zak and Benji Borg, co-founders of ANCHOVY. plc and James Abela and Matthew Sammut, co-founders of NIU Ltd. have announced the formation of a comprehensive technology and digital services group, known as Capital 9H Ltd., with the goal of creating the largest digital services offering in Malta and paving the way for an international growth programme in the rapidly growing sector.
CHURNING THE WHEELS OF INNOVATION
Setting up your own company appears more and more appealing to many people across the globe. However, creating a product or bringing an idea to life can be both challenging and exciting. Dayna Camilleri Clarke caught up with Paul Waltzing to discuss his start-up journey.
HOW FINTECH AND ECOSYSTEMS ARE RESHAPING FINANCE
Looking back to 2015, the word FinTech brought palpitations to many leaders within the financial services industry. This shiny new word represented nimble tech-driven businesses ready to take on the big giants – and quickly displace them. They had seen this happen with the entertainment and retail sectors, and the omens were out that financial services were next. Consumers and businesses were frustrated with the pace of innovation, while industry giants worried that their archaic systems and processes could mean that meaningful transformation was beyond what they could deliver anytime soon. Theo Dix explains.
THE MALTA START-UP SCENE: UNCERTAIN OUTCOME, A WORTHY INVESTMENT
Federica Tadiello spoke to Adrian Galea, a passionate and savvy manager who knows the local start-up ecosystem very well and who critically thinks that Malta has still a lot to do to attract talents and gain a privileged position in the European landscape. However, the good news is that it looks like there is a vibrant community of entrepreneurs with compelling stories to tell.
ARE NFTs DISRUPTING THE TRADITIONAL BUSINESS MODELS?
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are somewhat of a buzzword in today’s world, as the emerging concept has been attracting attention from all around the globe. It is no coincidence that recently, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, announced a change in the social media platform’s name to ‘Meta’, signalling another shift in the digital world. NFTs could well become an integral part of the digital world is exciting. Jake Aquilina explains.
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS
Marisa Xuereb has been a member of the Malta Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, becoming more engaged when she joined the council a little over six years ago. Thus, she was asked to join the management board during her second term in the council. Having recently reached a new milestone on the 24th of March 2021, in which the council elected her as president of the Malta Chamber 2021-2023, Lyndsey Grima caught up with Marisa to talk about the economy's strengths, struggles and how Malta can remain an attractive location for business.
LEADING IN DISRUPTION
Lyndsey Grima caught up with Dana Farrugia, Tech. mt’s CEO, to discuss the accelerating digital revolution and where Malta stands in building and expanding its digital backbone. What’s the way forward for businesses, especially after being crucially hit by several external factors in the last few years, and how can Tech.mt help local businesses get back on their feet? Dana Farrugia shares her insight.
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Digitalisation is being heralded as the must-have solution for the advancement and prosperity of local businesses. Giselle Borg Olivier speaks to Hon. Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, about the digital strategy and the plans that Malta must develop itself as a digital centre of opportunity.
NOMADS LAND
Malta could very well be the next stop for digital nomads. Daniel Goebel and Minou Schillings, digital entrepreneurs, speak to Tech.mag on this phenomenon and on some projects including CoCohub, a community of digital nomads also operating in Malta.
IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BIASED?
While machines are technically without bias, time and time again, we see cases of racism and sexism, to name a few. Veronica Stivala speaks to AI expert Dr Charlie Abela to find out whether AI can be prejudiced.