The President of the Government highlighted the great potential of the high-level international meeting taking place today and Friday on Terceira island for the projection of the Region. It intends to discuss the creation of the International Research Center of the Azores (AIR Center).
 
"This is a moment of great significance and great potential for our Region to reaffirm the central position of the Azores in a number of areas of knowledge and science, such as the case of climate, oceans and space," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government also stressed that the Regional Government, which is involved in the preparation of this meeting, awaits with expectation its conclusions and the steps that will be followed in order to "implement and build on science a new factor of projection of the Azores and the country at international level."
 
"This meeting and the goals underpinning it are not limited to the work that the Regional Government has developed in other areas," said Vasco Cordeiro. He pointed out the example of several investments on various islands, such as the case of the Satellite Tracking Station of the European Space Agency (ESA) that is installed on Santa Maria.
 
This work also includes the project related to a future observation centre on Marine sciences to be headquartered on the island of Faial.
 
"All this - and AIR Center is another factor - adds to this foundation of science and knowledge for the projection of our Region abroad," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The island of Terceira hosts today and Friday the meeting "Atlantic Interactions: High Level Industry-Science-Government Dialogue," an event organised by the National Government in partnership with the Government of the Azores.
 
This high-level meeting that will gather delegations from over 30 countries, with about two hundred participants, will discuss the creation of the future AIR Center. It aims to promote dialogue between government officials, researchers and entrepreneurs, aligning research strategies of South Atlantic countries and North Atlantic countries for international cooperation in the areas of climate change, energy, space and ocean.