The Azores hosts the fourth international meeting of partners of the "Islands of Innovation" Interreg Europe project to be held on the island of São Miguel between November 7 and 9.
 
This three-day meeting will be attended by thirty European Union island partners, who will be informed about some of the good innovation practices that are being implemented in the archipelago to enhance the added value of Azorean products.
 
The programme includes several visits and meetings for the presentation of projects in progress, namely at the University of the Azores, INOVA institute, Pineapple Culture Interpretation Centre, Furnas Monitoring and Research Centre, Pico Vermelho Geothermal Plant and NONAGON - São Miguel Science and Technology Park.
 
"Islands of Innovation" is a project coordinated at regional level with the RIS3 Smart Specialisation Strategy and the Azorean Agenda for Innovation. This meeting will be also an opportunity to evaluate its implementation in the various island regions where it is being implemented.
 
The Azorean Government, through the Regional Directorate for European Affairs, participates in this project as a partner with entities from other island regions, namely the Province of Friesland (Netherlands), Guadeloupe (Outermost Region of France), Samso (Denmark), Kuressaare (Estonia), Northern Aegean Region (Greece) and Madeira.
 
The project, which runs until 2021, aims to identify, list, systematise and introduce improvements in innovation policies, enhancing entrepreneurship and developing new activities and products in partner regions. Moreover, it promotes the exchange of good practices among these regions and within regions themselves.
 
The visiting programme includes the holding of a meeting between regional participants of the project and participants from outside the Region to take place at NONAGON - São Miguel Science and Technology Park on November 9.
 
This meeting will have a panel debate panel featuring the participation of Han Brezet, professor at the University of Delft in the Netherlands, one of the experts working on this project.