The Agenda for Innovation, a priority established in the Programme of the Government, will allow the coordination among all governmental entities, business associations and knowledge centres in the implementation of measures created to facilitated the access to knowledge as well as to new technological, information and management tools. Moreover, it intends to foster business innovation and applied research in the Azores, based on a perspective of cohesive, sustained and sustainable economic development.
 
With a policy towards the coordination of strategic and sectoral public measures, pursued in partnership with all private agents and other entities involved, the Government aims to improve their effectiveness, scope and impact on investment growth and development of more products and services.
 
The implementation of the Agenda for Innovation will stimulate the exploration of endogenous resources as well as the enormous potential of the Azores in several sectors. Hence, it will diversify regional exports and contribute to the future competitiveness of the regional business fabric on all islands.
 
These potentialities are particularly evident in medical sciences, through the use of volcanic activities or the creation of products, derived from springs and hydrothermal vents, for the development of pharmaceutical, hygienic or beauty compounds.
 
In addition to investments already made or underway in space technologies, arising from the geostrategic position and the conditions promoted by the Region, the potential for exploration of the sea and the so-called clean technologies (cleantech) in the energy sector also create opportunities for new business and wealth generation under the stipulated goals and measures.
 
In order to coordinate the implementation of the Agenda for Innovation in line with the RIS3 Strategy defined for the Region, the Government will appoint Arnaldo Fernandes de Oliveira Machado for the position of the President of the Administration Board of São Miguel Science and Technology Park at the General Assembly of the NONAGON Association.
 
Arnaldo Machado holds a degree in Business Organisation and Management from the University of the Azores and postgraduate degree from the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences of the Portuguese Catholic University. He has extensive academic, professional and public experience in areas related to economics and, in particular, with the promotion of investment and business competitiveness.
 
Among other positions, he served as Regional Director for Support to Economic Cohesion and as Regional Director for Support to Investment and Competitiveness.
 
He taught the courses of Econometrics and Economic Policy at the Department of Economics and Business Management of the University of the Azores. He was also a guest lecturer at the University of Madeira, where he taught the course of Economic and Monetary Policy.
 
He has been a member of the General Council of IFD - Financial Institution for Development since March 2017 and, until now, he has held the position of President of the Administration Board of SDEA - Society for Business Development of the Azores. Moreover, he was also the Representative of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in the Monitoring Committee of COMPETE - Competitiveness Factors Operational Programme.
 
NONAGON is the Region's first Science and Technology Park, an initiative developed by the Government of the Azores in partnership with Lagoa City Hall and the University of the Azores. It is part of the Regional Network of Incubators, being also a catalyst for synergies in innovation processes that have a present and future impact on the real economy.