The Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Infrastructures presided over the opening of the exhibition “Moinhos de Maré do Ocidente Europeu” (Tide Mills of Western Europe) at Expolab, Lagoa.
Mills, being traditional structures that use renewable energy sources such as wind and water, “have always contributed to the economic activity, in general, as well as to food production, in particular,” stressed the Regional Secretary.

José Contente also accompanied a group of children composed by students from the São Roque Elementary School while they ground corn into flour in order to make break. This experience was a practical demonstration of one of the primary purposes of mills.

The Regional Secretary said that these thematic exhibitions promote a movement of history and science associated with the daily lives of populations. He also reminded that the Azorean Government will move ahead with the recovery of the mill located in the village of Ajuda da Bretanha, which is a landmark of the village and one of few existing windmills on São Miguel.

Furthermore, José Contente announced the reformulation the Regional Secretariat is undertaking in the current Regional Scientific and Technological System which will enable new types of incentives for research and researchers, focusing on research and development in a business context.

“The Azores Scientific and Technological System, as it will be designated henceforth, will privilege research in a business context and establish new rules. We intend to simplify procedures and adapt the current programmes and projects to the actual needs and aspiration of researchers,” underlined the Regional Secretariat.

The exhibition “Moinhos de Maré do Ocidente Europeu,” which was organised by the Municipal Ecomuseum of Seixal, displays several mills from different European countries; it has travelled to several European cities and now it is open to the public at Expolab. This display is integrated in a series of initiatives supported by the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures in the context of the promotion of Science Centres among the community.