The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Horta that, according to the proposal presented, the Atlantic Observatory "should take the shape of a private non-profit association headquartered in Horta." In this regard, he added that "several potential funding sources have already been identified, including two million Euros from EEA Grants funds," the European Economic Area and Norway financial mechanisms.
 
Gui Menezes pointed out that the Atlantic Observatory "will operate in networking, involving various national and international [scientific] entities. The government official added that it "aims to become a hub congregating what is best done in the country and in the Region, with special emphasis on the production of knowledge about the ocean and its transfer to the economic fabric."
 
The Regional Secretary spoke at the Legislative Assembly following a question posed to the Regional Government, stressing that "anyone who is acquainted with the operation and dynamics of scientific research knows that projects do not develop overnight."
 
"Projects involving several countries with different decision-making bodies and hierarchies take their time," said the government official. In this context, he noted that the Atlantic Observatory is oriented to "respond to societal challenges, to increase knowledge and to promote the monitoring of Atlantic ecosystems as well as their preservation and sustainability." Moreover, it is also directed to "the management, coordination and promotion of research activities for the development of science and sea-related technologies."
 
Gui Menezes stressed that this project "should support several lines of research, namely conservation and biodiversity, biotechnology and marine technologies," noting that it will be "a partner of the national AIR Center network, which is being developed by the Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FCT)."
 
The Regional Secretary recalled the creation of an Installing Commission for the Atlantic Observatory, where the Region is represented by biologist Frederico Cardigos, adding that five meetings have already been held.
 
"We already have a nearly finalised draft" on the work plan and operation of the Atlantic Observatory, the government official said, adding that "several researchers and scientific institutions have been heard, including the University of the Azores."
 
As for the Atlantic International Research Center - AIR Center, Gui Menezes recalled that the Azores are part of the Installing Commission and that "several high-level meetings have been held to motivate the interest of several countries [for this project] and to discuss its scientific plan."
 
The Regional Secretary also stated that the governance model of this centre "should be closer to the model of a project already implemented in Mediterranean, PRIMA, involving countries from Maghreb and the European Union."
 
"I would like to clarify that the jobs created under the AIR Center will be mainly directed to the associated research centres and, in this regard, the FCT is negotiating two contract-programmes with the Ministry of Science," stated the government official.
 
According to Gui Menezes, the aim is to "strengthen the scientific component" of some existing infrastructures in the Azores, namely the RAEGE Station on Santa Maria and the development of the RAEGE Station on Flores.
 
"These programme-contracts will contribute to the increase of jobs at research centres [joining the AIR Center]," stated the government official.
 
In his speech, the Secretary for Science and Technology stressed that the AIR Center intends to "study phenomena that can only be studied at an Atlantic scale." Therefore, it is necessary "to involve several countries and infrastructures in the Atlantic for the collection of data to study these phenomena."
 
In April, the AIR Center private law association, based on Terceira Island, was created. There are also plans for the creation of a secretariat to "support the activities" developed under this project, added the government official.
 
The next high-level meeting for the implementation of AIR Center is scheduled for November in the Canaries.