The Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Infrastructures highlighted today at a press conference the impact that the 11th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks – ICTON – will have in the Region.
This scientific conference which will take place on S. Miguel Island will bring to the Azores, for the first time, a wide range of top researchers in the field of telecommunications, 250 speakers and more than 350 lecturers.
The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technologies and Infrastructures has confirmed the financial support to this international event, promoted by the Institute of Telecommunications of the University of Aveiro in a close collaboration with the University of the Azores. Being financially supported by the Government of the Azores, the event will take place in Ponta Delgada, from June 28 to July 2.
José Contente spoke to the journalists, stating that this type of conferences “always brings news and knowledge to our Region. The panel of international researchers transforms this type of events in a quality and qualifying event, regarding human resources, enabling these scientists to give their important contribution, so that we may have the notion of the impact as well as of the advantages of transparent optical networks.” 
The University of Aveiro has chosen the Azores for this event, having in mind that Portugal was the place chosen for this year’s event and the exceptional conditions of the Azores.
For the Secretary, this choice confirms, “reinforces and promotes our perspective of being integrated in this modern world of high speed, of electrical components. In this specific case, the Azores will also transform cooper into another type of more reliable and effective material, which also enables great advantages for our business people, for the Azoreans and for all those that use the digital world.”
José Contente added that this conference is framed under the Regional Scientific and Technological System, contributing to the creation of a knowledge cluster, “as new stimulus for our economy.”
Stressing once more the importance of the event in the Azores, the Secretary stated that “this international conference is mentioned in the main search engines concerning the speciality, among others the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).”
The International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON) will focus on networks and telecommunication systems, particularly fibre optical telecommunications, being considered one of the three best conferences on these subjects at a world level.
During the five days of intense scientific activity, in which the international scientific community, telecommunication companies and important institutes of several countries (Japan, Belgium, Greece, Egypt, China, Australia, etc.) will attend, the emergence of conclusions, solutions and answers for several problems that the next generation networks poses today is expected.