The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Lagoa that the Azorean Government "welcomes" the establishment of the installing commission of the Atlantic Observatory, whose resolution was published today in the Official Gazette.
 
Gui Menezes, asked by journalists, stated the installing committee of the Atlantic Observatory "is now going to assess which measures need to be taken and decide the operation and funding models" for this centre.
 
The Regional Secretary also stated that the Government will "assess the entry of partners into this new institution, which may be national and international centres," adding that it will also decide on "the areas selected" for research.
 
Gui Menezes considered that the Atlantic Observatory, which will be headquartered in Horta, "could be a very important lever for the development of the Sea Economy and marine research in the Azores."
 
"We hope that this centre will ensure the maintenance of qualified human resources and allow the development of some areas linked to ocean research and the economic development of oceans in areas where the Region still needs to further expand," said the government official.
 
In this regard, the government official pointed out marine technologies and engineering as well as marine biotechnology, expressing his belief that the Atlantic Observatory "may attract national and international centres in these fields to work in partnership."
 
Regarding marine biotechnology, Gui Menezes defended that the Region "must necessarily take a leap, given our potential in terms of resources."
 
"The Atlantic Observatory has all the conditions to promote these developments in the next few years," Gui Menezes said. It is up to the installing committee, in which the Azores are represented, "to do its work" towards the implementation of this centre.