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Evolve supports science research in Malta

By August 24, 2024August 28th, 2024No Comments
It seems to be quite a leap from creating a working model of a solar-powered lift to sending skin cells to space. But for Christopher Busuttil Delbridge, there is a clear path from one to the other.
Back in the 1990s, at the tender age of 17, the chief executive of Evolve was already impassioned by the idea of science popularisation. For his Systems of Knowledge project at school, he and a friend had created the lift model, and it was from there a natural progression to win the local round of the Young Europeans Environmental Research competition and to represent Malta at the international round in Cologne.
‘It was such an experience for us, and we were fascinated by the cutting-edge technology, from photovoltaic cells embedded into curtains to fuel cells that could power a submarine,’ he said.
In 1995, he went into the University of Malta and did his Bachelors and then Postgraduate Diploma in Science, and continued to use his passion and energy to draw in others to science.
He was on the organising committee of Science Week at the Malta Council for Science and Technology, and with colleagues set up the junior section of the Malta Chamber of Scientists.
‘I spent two whole years working on my thesis on the neuro-transmitters used for treating multiple sclerosis and some forms of cancer. The side-effects were quite cruel as they caused depression and could even lead to suicidal tendencies. My research, under the supervision of my professor at the time, was to find the right dose which had the required therapeutic effect without the severity of the side-effects.
‘It was fascinating but it was clear that without money you cannot buy equipment or fund researchers! At the time, we wished to do more but we were underfunded. What stuck with me, however, was the impact of planting that seed, that idea,’ he recalled.
Once he graduated, Christopher joined Evolve, at the time a department of just two people that formed part of the Attard and Co group, which supplied scientific equipment. Over the past seven years, the group has since grown from 50 to 200 people and Evolve is now a subsidiary of the company, itself employing 40 scientists.
Moving to business from the world of academia was a bit of a shock and Christopher admits that, within a week, he had been brought down to Earth.
‘I came out of University thinking that there was one type of microscope! When I went into industry, I realised that each microscope offers a bespoke solution for its particular application.’
It is therefore quite appropriate that one of the company’s first donations through RIDT was a €35,000 surgical operating microscope for the Anatomy Department. It was the first of many donations and collaborations with RIDT, amounting to some €500,000 over the years.
‘Our first focus was on equipment, but it has ‘evolved’ since then, if you can excuse the pun,’ he laughed.
His personal life also brought home the importance of research and innovation: when she was 21, his wife had a rare cancer which meant that she needed a prototype prosthetic bone inserted into her thigh, which has enabled her to lead a near normal life for all these years.
‘You have to be grateful! Even here, at Evolve, everything is enhanced each and every day by the knowledge coming out of research,’ he stressed.
Christopher tapped the table in his office and spoke with pride about the fact that the idea to look into the behaviour of human bacterial flora in space was hatched around it with Prof. Joseph Borg who turned it into a reality – three times already, sending bacteria-infected skin samples into orbit.
‘We had been collaborating with him for years. We had originally supported him with a €6,000 donation through RIDT for the study fees of one of his Ph.D. researchers.’
He walked back to his desk to proudly hold up a replica of the engineered box in which the cells had been sent and turned back with a look of determination.
‘I think my background helped me appreciate how researchers and their assistants live from project to project, and how it all depends on funding. They spend so much time writing applications for their next project, rather than doing the research itself. If there were a steady stream of funding, their time would be so much better spent!’
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Evolve is now dedicated to its mission as a benefactor. The three-year collaboration which ended in 2024 meant that Prof. Charles Sammut of the Electro Magnetic Research Group in the Department of Physics received €25,000 a year to use as he saw fit, whether for researchers’ salaries, or the purchase, maintenance or repair of equipment.

‘It is actually a very small contribution compared to what they need. But they always make us feel so welcome, lining up the whole team whenever we visit,’ he said.

Apart from what the Evolve money achieves, Christopher is also very proud of the example that they are setting, which is encouraging more and more companies to come forward. Every bit matters, especially in a country where funding is much more limited than in other leading universities and research institutions abroad.

Christopher has already pledged to extend the RIDT sponsorship by a further three years, once again to the EMRG and all the disciplines it supports, and intends to continue Evolve’s 1 percent of company turnover policy to corporate social responsibility.

‘There are so many forms of CSR, from clean-ups to charity. But I decided that as a scientific company we will mostly support researchers,’ he said, noting that most of their employees come from the University or MCAST.

He has one other aim: improving what happens once the research is done.

‘We are part of the scientific community and are keen to help strengthen the commercial mindset. We need to be aware of the value of our inventions as there is a pipeline of good ideas coming out of the University.

‘The challenges I faced at University of Malta are still vivid in my mind. I will never forget where I started.’

This interview first appeared in the University of Malta Research Innovation and Development Trust Annual Report 2023.

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