The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology highlighted today the new antenna of the European Space Agency (ESA) to be installed on Santa Maria in the context of the Government's investments in projects based on space technologies. In this context, he also mentioned the installation of a station designed to collect and transmit data for the new constellation of polar meteorological satellites under the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).
 
"With the entry into operation of the new ESA antenna and EUMETSAT services," Gui Menezes stated that "the contracts with regional companies amounting to 700 thousand Euros are guaranteed." As he mentioned, "both projects implemented this year allowed the signing of several contracts with regional companies, yielding a return of 58% of the total amount spent by the Region in the aerospace sector."
 
The Regional Secretary spoke at the Legislative Assembly in Horta during a debate on science policy. He considered these projects as "an important contribution to the future AIR Center with regard to Earth observation studies and the development of new businesses in the aerospace industry."
 
As for the Atlantic International Research Centre, which will be based on Terceira Island, Gui Menezes stated that "he would like to dispel all doubts once and for all." In this regard, he mentioned that it will be "an intergovernmental research agency based on several existing infrastructures, some of which already implemented in the Azores. Indeed, the Regional Government has invested in some of them," such as the Santa Maria Fundamental Geodetic Station of the Atlantic Network of Geodynamic and Space Stations (RAEGE).
 
The government official recalled that the AIR Center, an initiative of the National Government, was "designed to serve the entire international community and focused on the study of the space, ocean, atmosphere, climate and energy." Moreover, he added that it also intended to involve companies, research centres as well as national, European and American universities, especially those with specific programmes developed with Portugal, such as MIT and the University of Texas.
 
The Secretary for Science and Technology stated that the AIR Center emerges in the Azores "for several reasons," highlighting the fact that the various regional governments led by the Socialist Party have "thought ahead" and created space infrastructures. Furthermore, the Region has raised to prominence in research areas of excellence, such as Marine Sciences.
 
Considering all the meetings held and the countries and institutions involved, the Regional Secretary urged all parties involved "to acknowledge the importance of this project and the efforts carried out by the Azorean and National Governments in its implementation."
 
"In fact, I would like to break down some prejudices and to believe in the good faith of the institutions involved in the creation of this project, step by step, which could provide a strong contribution to the economic and scientific development of our Region," said Gui Menezes.