The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Brussels that the Azores International Research Center "should be formally established in 2017," adding that it is expected to have "a legal scheme similar to other international research centres, such as CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) or INL (International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory)."
 
Fausto Brito e Abreu spoke on the sidelines of the 6th workshop on "Atlantic Interactions: Knowledge, Climate Change, Space and Oceans," an event organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology to discuss the agenda of the future of the Azores International Research (AIR) Center.
 
In addition its scientific dimension, this international research centre on space, climate change and oceans will also comprise "a very important business dimension in various areas, such as space," said the Regional Secretary.
 
"There are several companies interested in using the Azores as a microsatellite launch pad," the government official added, defending that the Region may have "a small ecosystem of space companies that create synergies among them."
 
Companies participating in this workshop "showed interest in taking part in the investments of AIR Center," Brito e Abreu said, reminding that this research centre "will benefit from the existing infrastructures" in the archipelago.
 
According to him, the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, as well as several representatives of the EU Commission's General-Directorate of the Sea, Internal Market, Industry and Entrepreneurship "showed great enthusiasm with the idea of installing a centre with these features in the Azores."
 
Fausto Brito e Abreu praised the "extraordinary work developed by Minister of Science, Manuel Heitor, and the President of FCT, Paulo Ferrão," in gathering international support for the creation of AIR Center," namely South Atlantic partners such as Brazil and South Africa."