According to the Research and Development indicators released by the Azores Statistical Yearbook 2010, the Government of the Azores has invested 870 thousand Euros in R&D units in the Region, surpassing the national investment, which did not exceed 850 thousand Euros.
 
The data should be analysed taking into account the size, structure and proportionality of the regional scientific and technological system.

According to the Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Infrastructures, the data showing that research in Social land Human Sciences corresponds to 57 percent of R&D investments in the Azores "is the first aspect to require a proportionate analysis and an adequate framework." These figures may lead, incorrectly, to the idea that the Government's promotion and investment in R&D units in the area of Social and Human Sciences is substantially higher than in science and technology fields.
 
In fact, the increased investment in research projects on Social and Human Sciences by the Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures (SRCTE), is related to an investment of over 460 thousand Euros that was carried out in 2006 for a total of 22 projects, already concluded.

In the 2007 edition/application/initiatives for R&D projects, 17 have already been approved in scientific fields other Social and Human Sciences, corresponding to a total investment of 822 thousand Euros.

21 projects were approved in the 2008 edition, in a global investment of 900 thousand Euros. Only three (55 thousand Euros) concerned the areas of Social Sciences/Economics. In the 2009/2010 editions, 6 projects were approved in different areas, making up a total investment of 438 thousand Euros.

The 2012 edition comprises 18 projects, corresponding to a three-year investment of 750 thousand Euros. 9 projects cover the field of Biological and Environmental Sciences, of which 3 will be developed in the area of Nature Conservation and 6 in Environmental Quality.

The remaining 9 projects will focus on Marine Sciences and Fisheries. In addition, the Government has strongly invested in the scientific re-equipment and scientific monitoring networks of regional R&D units, the total amount being of 2.5 million Euros.
 
There is also an ongoing investment of over 591 thousand Euros, which will not cover Social Sciences units as they are not equipped with laboratories.
 
As announced at the Regional Council for Science and Technology, held in June 2011, of a total of 45 projects ongoing/or about to start, only three correspond to projects developed in the area of Social and Human Sciences.

The investment made by the SRCTE, under its incentive plan, in projects developed in the area of Social and Human Sciences reaches 513 thousand Euros while in the remaining scientific fields, it amounts to 5.5 million Euros. In any case, the Government recognises the importance of that area and, thus, continues to support social and economic whenever necessary.
 
In the Azores, the relevance of Social and Human Sciences in statistics is still high due to the abundance of human resources in this area at the University of the Azores as this institution gathers the vast majority of resources, investing and implementing R&D projects. In this context, the departments of Economics, History, Philosophy and Social Sciences and even the department of Educational Sciences - and other departments whose researchers conduct studies in the aforementioned area - have played an important role in establishment of the University of the Azores.
 
There is a possibility of allocating additional support to projects developed by researchers in the area of Social Sciences with the purpose of attracting external R&D investment to the Region.
In this case, there are differences between the Region and Mainland Portugal (28.7% in Mainland Portugal and 57% in the Azores). This situation is explained by the fact that contrary to the Azores, where there is only one university, there is a wide range of R&D institutions in Mainland Portugal, from institutes, laboratories, units to universities, which have since been created in areas other than traditional Social and Human Sciences.
 
Regarding other statistical data, R&D investment in the Azores represents 0.42% of the gross domestic product (GDP), 0.38% in Madeira and 1.5% in Mainland Portugal. R&D investment in the Azores cannot be solely dependent on the Regional Government. Companies can play an important role in this context, despite the limitations of the regional business sector, but it also depends on the ability of institutions and researchers to attract external investment through national (FCT), European (7th Framework Programme for R&TD) and international R&D funding programmes.
 
Thus, a comparison between the dynamics and structure of our scientific system and that of Mainland Portugal's scientific system must be based on differences in their proportion and the readings that might be done in this context.
 
Despite our small size, one should recall that of the 5 units headquartered in the Region, accredited by the FCT, 3 have improved the rate awarded at the last international evaluation process in 2009 ( 2 improve from "good" to "very good" and one from "very good" to "excellent"). In the field of Earth and Space sciences, the Region has the only R&D centre in the country rated by the FCT as "excellent." While in the field of Marine Sciences, the Azores has one of the most prestigious units (integrated in Associate Laboratory) at international level. The latter is responsible for conduction studies on the management marine ecosystems, deep-sea resources and ecosystems, seamounts and hydrothermal vents.
The success of these projects results from the dynamics and commitment of our researchers and the investment that has been made in the Region.
 
Another aspect under analysis concerns the percentage of R&D personnel in the labour force as well as the percentage of researchers (ETI) in the labour force. Both indicators correspond to 0.3% of the regional labour while in Mainland Portugal these indicators correspond to 0.9% and 0.8%, respectively. Most of our researchers conduct their studies at the University of the Azores and the vast majority also holds the position of university professor. Hence, the number of full-time researchers is very low.

As such, their work is split between teaching and research. In order to know the percentage of full-time researchers, one should take into account that university professors are also researchers and as such they do not dedicated their full time to research; therefore, they will be statistically included the "part-time researcher" category (Example: 2 professors who dedicate half of their time to research correspond to 1 human resource in the "full-time researcher" category).
 
In any case, one must bear in mind, once again, the size of the regional scientific structure. The University of the Azores has a stable staff and, under a cost-containment policy, the possibility of renewing R&D resources lies in the promotion of training, through research grants, to attract young researchers to the Azores.
  
The awarding of grants in the Region has been a priority for the Regional Government and for that reason the number of grant holders has been increasing. By December 31, 2011 the Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT) was supporting 23 postdoctoral fellows, 21 doctoral fellows, 8 research technicians, 8 graduate fellows and 43 holders of scientific research initiation grants.

In past years, the Government launched an application for 10 postdoctoral grants and, under the new rules, another tender was launched to hire 20 doctoral fellows. These researchers will develop their projects at regional R&D units, simultaneously contributing to their personal training and to the growth/development of their R&D units. In 2010 and 2011, the FRCT spent nearly 2.7 million Euros in the payment of grants, tuition fees and social security expenses.
 
The Government of the Azores restates that the regional strategy in the field of research will channel its support to projects designed to find scientific solutions for the Region's problems and public policy decision-making. These projects are also expected to bring added value to the regional economy.