The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Ponta Delgada that, considering the "strategic importance" of research related to the Sea, the Government will allocate public support "over two million euros" to the University of Azores. It will help this institution to recruit "about a dozen professors or researchers for the next three years in order to reinforce the university campus of Faial Island."
 
Announced by the President of the Government in November, the provision of support "will coordinated with the Rectory" and includes funds that were initially intended for another type of investment in the field of the Sea.
 
According to Gui Menezes, "it will be essential to reinforce the Horta campus of the University of the Azores and, consequently, the Sciences of the Sea in the Region."
 
The Regional Secretary spoke at the solemn session celebrating the 43rd anniversary of the University of the Azores, recalling that the path of this institution is "linked to the history of Autonomy."
 
"For more than four decades, the University of the Azores has put knowledge at the service of society and contributed to the development of the archipelago," the government official said, adding that the "success" of the Azorean academy will also be "an important contribution" to the success of the Region.
 
In this context, the government official stated that the Regional Government, "within the reach of its possibilities and powers, has supported and will continue to support the University of the Azores at various levels, namely its tripartite structure. The latter is an identity mark of the Azorean academy and should never be called into question."
 
The Regional Secretary defended that it is expected that the University of the Azores will continue to be "one of the main driving forces of social and scientific transformation in the Region," pointing out the importance of investing a "diversified, wide and quality" training offer.
 
In his speech, Gui Menezes recalled the creation of specific financial support programmes for scientific and technological development, highlighting PRO-SCIENTIA, which has been in force since 2012. According to him, "the access is restricted to research and development entities (R&D) based in the archipelago, with the University of the Azores being the main and almost the single beneficiary of this programme."
 
Under the scope of PRO-SCIENTIA, he stressed the opening of several calls during the first half of this year, representing a global amount over 400 thousand Euros. This year, the regional budget for Science will be mainly applied in "research projects, internationalisation of research as well as in cooperation and knowledge transfer between the entities of the Azorean Scientific and Technological System and the socio-economic fabric. "
 
The Secretary for Science defended that "advanced training is the driving force of the Region's future and the establishment of young people with high-level qualifications, being essential for creating qualified employment, entrepreneurship and improving business competitiveness." In this context, the University of the Azores also plays a "fundamental role" in this area.
 
Furthermore, Gui Menezes highlighted the recognition "beyond borders" of regional researchers involved in international "top-notch" projects and scientific fields that the Government of the Azores considers "of great strategic importance."