European innovators to gather in Malta to explore the economic potential of discarded electronics

Electronic waste could represent an untapped economic opportunity for Malta, with new technologies making it increasingly possible to recover valuable raw materials from discarded electrical and electronic equipment for reuse in manufacturing.
The potential of this emerging industry will be explored on Friday 13 November, when Malta hosts the European Circular Electronics Kickstart (ECEK) Innovation Day, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and policymakers from across Europe.

The event comes at a time when Malta faces significant challenges in electronic waste collection. According to Eurostat figures published in October, Malta collected just 6.4 kilogrammes of electronic waste per person in 2024, compared with an EU average of 12.3 kilogrammes, placing it third from bottom in the European Union.

However, discarded mobile phones, computers and other electronic equipment also contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused in manufacturing, including the production of semiconductors and other advanced technologies.
For Malta, this could create opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs to develop specialised services, innovative technologies and partnerships with European manufacturers and recycling companies.Alessandro Silvestri, Managing Partner at MALTAccelerate, said: “Electronic waste is not simply an environmental challenge. It also represents an economic opportunity. For a country like Malta, the potential lies in developing specialised expertise and partnerships that allow local businesses to participate in emerging European supply chains. We want to demonstrate how the circular economy can become a driver of innovation and economic growth.”

The ECEK Innovation Day will showcase 15 startups from 12 countries developing technologies in advanced recycling, critical raw material recovery, sustainable manufacturing and circular electronics.
The event marks the culmination of the ECEK Acceleration Programme, managed by MALTAccelerate as part of EVEN CLOSER, a European project led by the University of Calabria and involving 44 partners.
EVEN CLOSER aims to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor industry by developing ways to recover and reuse critical raw materials, including silicon, gallium, indium and germanium. These materials are essential to technologies ranging from smartphones and computers to renewable energy systems and electric vehicles.

The Innovation Day will give participating startups an opportunity to present their technologies to investors and industrial partners, helping to turn innovative solutions into commercial opportunities while contributing to Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on imported raw materials.

Further information is available at www.evencloser.eu and www.maltaccelerate.com.