Azores join "Maritime Cluster of Macaronesia"

The Regional Director for Science and Technology stressed in Praia da Vitória the importance of developing partnerships in the field of research with the archipelagos of Canaries, Madeira and Cape Verde, highlighting the potential created through the integration of the Azores in the "Maritime Cluster of Macaronesia."

Nelson Simões spoke Tuesday at the signing of the integration agreement the Regional Fund for Science and Technology in the "Maritime Cluster of Macaronesia" (C3M), which includes various public and private entities from these archipelagos.

This cluster aims to create a network for the study and dissemination of initiatives related to Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Region, acting as a driving force of sustainable development in the archipelagos of Macaronesia.

Nelson Simões stressed that the integration of the Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT) falls within the strategy of this organisation in order to "raise external funds to develop science in the Azores."

"Research, development and innovation activities at sea are immense and may pose major challenges," the government official said, pointing out several sectors, including the extraction of minerals on the seabed, marine biotechnology, nautical tourism and maritime transport.

"There is a world of needs around the blue economy," said Nelson Simões, who also chairs the FRCT. According to him, "a close cooperation is vital in defining the strategies to achieve innovation."

For the Regional Director, "research activities that enrich the Azores with the knowledge that is generated within the cluster can be developed in the context of this collaboration."

Nelson Simões stressed that the integration of the Regional Fund for Science and Technology in C3M opens "an excellent way for cooperation with all entities that are already make up this body. It also gives the possibility of developing projects in the fields of Science and Technology." This may be very important for an "optimal use" of EU legislative and financial tools for the period 2014-2020.