As efforts to turn Malta into a digital hub continue apace through public and private investment, local creative leaders are taking the opportunity to make international connections that allow them to develop their business further.

This series catches up with the island’s foremost tech and digital entrepreneurs to understand what they do, and what the future holds.

(Standing, left to right) Kristian Zarb Adami, Edward Borg, Angelo Dalli, Johan Zammit & Gege Gatt / (Seated, left to right) Brian Zarb Adami, Simon Azzopardi & Stefan Farrugia

Those pictured form part of the 'Changing the tech game' series / Picture taken by Bernard Polidano

About yourself, your company and your greatest professional accomplishment to date…

Thought3D is an R&D company, with a passionate team, based in Malta. In 2014, myself, who studied engineering and Dr Keith M. Azzopardi, PhD in Metamaterials, set up Thought3D when we came up with a novel smart adhesive, Magigoo®, to address one of the biggest problems affecting 3D printing. The founding team was further strengthened with the addition of Andrei Andy Linnas and his business acumen and experience.

Today, Thought3D is focusing on its R&D activities. By combining knowledge of 3D printing, materials, chemistry, and engineering, the company develops new materials and technologies to solve problems in additive manufacturing. The Magigoo® adhesive brand has become the go-to solution for many large companies and corporations in the 3D printing industry.

What are the latest developments in your sector?

3D printing is finding quick adoption locally, but even more so internationally. The COVID-19 crisis resulted in the shutdown of entire industries and countries, and caused disruption to supply chains, giving new focus to the boosting of local manufacturing and advanced manufacturing, such as 3D printing, which can help supplement and strengthen this.

At Thought3D, we are focusing on helping businesses achieve even more with their current 3D printing technologies by making the process easier and more reliable. We are also developing technologies to post-process 3D printed parts and make them stronger.

What developments do you foresee for Malta to become a digital island?

I look forward to seeing further schemes and developments targeted at encouraging local and foreign individuals to invest in local start-ups and companies. Re-thinking the taxation of retained and reinvested profits would help boost the appeal of investing in Malta. Also, a shift to having more governmental (and other) services online would be welcome.

This is the second in a series of interview with Malta's leading tech entrepreneurs. Read the first, with IO-Labs CEO Kristian Zarb Adami, here.

This feature was first carried in the 2021 edition of Digital Island.