The Regional Government, through the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, has become a member of the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN), which encompasses more than 130 regional organisations from 24 European countries. Its members are mostly regional authorities, universities, research organisations, chambers of commerce and clusters.
 
This international network, based in Brussels, aims to promote regional collaboration and the promotion of partnerships in the field of science and technology.
 
The Regional Director for Science and Technology pointed out that this membership "will enable the establishment of synergies at the most varied levels and to take part in the 13 expert-oriented international working groups."
 
According to Bruno Pacheco, this participation aims to "develop more synergies with other European regions, thus enhancing the participation and integration of Azorean stakeholders in European projects on themes relevant to the Azores," namely the sea, smart cities, energy and climate, tourism, bioeconomy and innovation.
 
"ERRIN works with research and innovation in a very comprehensive manner, promoting triple and quadruple helix cooperation approaches and attaching utmost importance to regional innovation ecosystems," stated the government official.
 
Bruno Pacheco stressed that the integration of the Azores into ERRIN "reinforces the commitment of the Regional Government to the internationalisation of the Azorean Scientific and Technological System (SCTA) at the heart of Europe." As he also emphasised, it will contribute to "the establishment and consolidation of broad network of contacts in various areas of interest for the Region."
 
"By being a member of this network, the Regional Fund for Science and Technology encourages the participation of regional stakeholders in the bottom-up approach to this network, contributing to the development of European research and innovation policy," said the Regional Director.
 
ERRIN has the mission to strengthen the regional and local component of the European Union's research and innovation policies and programmes, thus contributing to the construction of a competitive Europe based on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in all regions.