The Azores, through the regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures, have led to creation of a document that sets guidelines for the NEREUS strategy - Association of European Regions that use space technology – for the years 2010-2012.
The document that defines the strategies of NEREUS, also aims to define the guidelines to reinforce the association at a political and operational level as well as to establish an efficient communication line. Moreover, the definition of priority guidelines for the future of GMES and GNSS and their respective funding areas are amongst the goals of the aforementioned document.
The proposal, which was presented at the last general Assembly of NEREUS, was drafted in conjunction with the regions of Bremen, East Midlands and Veneto. The document will now be subject to discussion and approval at the next General Assembly, scheduled for November 30.
Meanwhile, the final version of the brochure that will gather the first applications/services regarding the use of GMES in the regions covered by NEREUS was presented with the title “The first uses of GMES” at the group meeting of EO/GMES - Observation on Earth / Global Monitoring for Environmental and Security.
The Azores participate in the present edition with a project of the University of the Azores/DOP titled as “Azores Ocean Monitoring and Environmental Management.”
In addition to the General Assembly of NEREUS, a scientific symposium was also organised, with several thematic meetings, such as the EO/ GMES, GALILEO and Education; these meeting were attended by various Azorean experts and researchers.
One should remind that the GMES project was launched 12 years ago with the purpose of providing Europe with a strategy for monitoring the Earth. GMES is regarded as a relevant “tool” to help and protect citizens; this is a project in which the Azores have played an important technical role.
Currently, the NEREUS project integrates twenty six members.