The Regional Director for Science and Technology highlighted at the opening of the BiodivERsA3 meeting the need for the Azores to continue investing in international cooperation through scientifically based projects.
 
"We have no doubt that our cooperation, values and commitments shared with the future are essential to guarantee the living heritage of European biodiversity," Bruno Pacheco said, reiterating the Regional Government's commitment to this network.
 
At this meeting held in Ponta Delgada, the identification of the best research practices as a basis for the implementation of the European Research Area is under discussion, with the main goal of building a sustainable dynamic platform to identify the most pressing strategic issues for biodiversity.
 
As part of the efforts towards the internationalisation of the Azorean scientific system, the Azorean Government, a full member of the BiodivERsA3 network - Consolidating the European Research Area on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, through the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, has been investing in ERA-NET co-financing mechanisms that promote the establishment of partnerships between teams from different backgrounds.
 
The Regional Fund for Science and Technology is a member of a network made up of 24 public research funding agencies from 18 European countries.
 
In the context of this network, a call for the submission of scientific projects in the field of biodiversity was launched with an overall budget of € 33.9 million Euros. It is co-financed by the H2020 Framework Programme.
 
More than 3,000 European researchers participated in this call, which corresponded to a total of 132 applications submitted. A total of 26 projects were approved, two of which involve Azorean teams and represent an investment over 150 thousand Euros.
 
Azorean researchers participated actively by submitting nine applications, which corresponds to a success rate of 22%, standing at the same level as countries such as Germany; the latter registered an approval rate of 25%.
 
"The significant adherence of regional researchers to the BiodivERsA3 call and the two projects approved demonstrate the Regional Government's investment in this type of international projects," said Bruno Pacheco, who is also the coordinator of the Regional Fund for Science and Technology.