The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology called today for the mobilisation of Azorean companies to apply for funding lines created by the Regional Government for the development of Research & Development projects in business context.
 
Gui Menezes stressed that a funding line with an allocation of two million Euros is now available.
 
The Regional Secretary spoke on the sidelines of a visit to R&D project in business context, designated as "Pineapple composite," which was also attended by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, under the Regional Government's visit to the island of São Miguel.
 
This project stems from a partnership between pineapple producer "Boa Fruta" and the company "Fibrenamics" headquartered in NONAGON, representing an investment over 180 thousand Euros.
 
“It is another very positive example evidencing the use of a by-product of vegetable origin, in this case, for the production of other types of products with added value, namely the use of pineapple fibre in the production materials for construction purposes."
 
In this regard, Gui Menezes stressed the importance of partnerships, from which “new ideas and new products are born,” adding that this is “the main goal” of financing available for R&D in business context.
 
"There was a first call that exhausted all the available funds and we are now opening another call for Azorean companies that wish to bring innovation to what they do," said the Regional Secretary.
 
The Secretary for Science pointed out that “it is an opportunity for regional companies to embark on innovation.” According to him, “only with knowledge can we boost the competitiveness of our companies and our business fabric and, thus, contribute to our development."
 
"We have a lot of potential to be harnessed in the areas of agriculture, cattle raising and the sea," the government official said, stressing the importance of the research and work carried out by the University of the Azores in these areas in order to "transfer knowledge to companies."
 
The "Pineapple Composite" aims to develop pineapple fibre-reinforced eco-composites for architectural components and urban furniture by exploring the potential of an existing resource in the Azores.