The Vice-President of the Government presided over the opening of the Go On Incubator in Lagoa, the first of six that will make up the Regional Network of the Azores Business Incubators.
 
Sérgio Ávila revealed that, in addition to the incubator that now enters into operation at NONAGON - São Miguel Science and Technology Park in the area of information and communication technologies, another two will soon be installed: "one is linked to agri-food and agriculture" on Terceira island and the other is linked to "technologies in marine sciences."
 
In his speech, the Vice-President also revealed that another three incubators will be installed: one in handicrafts on the island of S. Miguel, another linked to Lajes Air Base on the island of Terceira, and the other in business innovation on the island of Santa Maria.
 
"We have defined a strategy that we are implementing in the Azores, which is based on creating the conditions to support the development of new companies," the Regional Government said, stressing the fact that, among the seven companies installed in all spaces available in the Go On Incubator, we can find "three winners of the Regional Entrepreneurship Competition."
 
For the Vice-President, this is a significant indicator, since the purpose is to create "an environment that allows the interconnection of knowledge with research, the scientific community, the academic community and the business world."
 
Moreover, Sérgio Ávila noted that the incubator opened today provides "support conditions in terms of infrastructures and synergies so that companies, at inception, may be duly monitored"; they may benefit from these conditions for a period of 18 months.
 
"The area of information and communication technologies is the most competitive in the world," Sérgio Ávila said, stressing that, after overcoming the obstacles arising in other areas, such as those faced by archipelago regions, "those who get into this market will be able to win." In this regard, he conveyed his belief that it will be the case of the companies installed in the Go On Incubator. 
 
The Vice-President of the Government recalled that the "incubation spirit" of companies also goes through the already announced project to support the creation of local incubators and companies in all municipalities of the archipelago with the cooperation of local authorities.
 
According to Sérgio Ávila, our goal is that "this principle of great success, which is to create conditions of companies to start their activity, may have practical effects throughout the Region and in all municipalities."