The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, is included in the European project BiodivERsA3 - Consolidating the European Research Area on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The initiative is funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, which launched last year a call for scientific projects in the field of biodiversity.
 
Under this procedure, which amounts to 31 million Euros, Azorean researchers submitted nine projects under this call; two of which were selected.
 
For the President of the Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT), the results achieved "in an international call with about hundred and fifty applications demonstrate the high level of competition and scientific excellence of this call."
 
In this context, Nelson Simões highlighted "the competence and excellence" of the selected regional teams, noting that we have made "a very important accomplishment for science that is produced in the archipelago."
 
The President of FRCT also stressed the importance of biodiversity studies in the Azores, not only in research but also "in the production of guidelines for regional public policies that provide for increased protection and conservation of biodiversity" in the archipelago.
 
The financial mechanism in force for this type of projects (ERA-NET) enabled the Regional Fund for Science and Technology to increase its financial contribution by 100%.
 
The initial investment of FRCT amounting to 100 thousand Euros has provided Azorean research teams with an overall amount of 200 thousand Euros, "which justifies the financial investment and the strategic option of the Government in these financing mechanisms to leverage public investment in Science and Technology ".
 
The BiodivERsA3 network was created following a project funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, which brings together a network of 31 public funding agencies from 18 European countries that provide specific amounts for scientific research in the field of biodiversity.
 
The work done by this European aims to identify the best research practices as a basis for the implementation of the European Research Area; its main purpose concerns the creation of a sustainable dynamic platform to identify the most pressing strategic issues for biodiversity.