The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Lagoa on the island of São Miguel that innovation is "the structuring condition in the economic and social progress" of island territories, namely autonomous and archipelago regions such as the Azores.
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at the 4th international meeting of partners of "Interreg Europe - Islands of Innovation" project, stressing that economic development and social progress "will not depend so much on fluctuations and economic systems defined by others and aimed at others." According to him, they should be the result of the action of local players, the use of local products, the mitigation of constraints and the enhancement opportunities for each region." On the occasion, he recalled the Endogenous Growth Theories advocated by Paul Romer, who has been recently distinguished with the Nobel Prize in Economics.
 
"If I address the issue of innovation from this standpoint, this is because we are dealing with a new challenge for Europe and our islands: economic and social progress based on innovation resulting from universal cooperation and knowledge is of the utmost relevance," said the government official.
 
In his speech, the government official emphasised that the cooperation and exchange of knowledge "allow us to innovate with our products and constraints with positive effects for the progress and quality of life of people." They are also at "the core of the European project and in the desire of each of our regions to be increasingly self-sustaining."
 
"Innovation is a structuring factor for the European Union and the development of each of our regions," stressed the Regional Secretary.
 
Rui Bettencourt recalled the periods in the History of Mankind when there were more innovations in technological and organisational terms, as it happened during the "Belle Époque" that spanned from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. As he emphasised, "this unparalleled golden period of innovation" stemmed from universal cooperation and knowledge, which are also "part of the European project."
 
The government official also stated that innovation "cannot be limited to finding new ideas" and it "cannot be limited to technological innovation." In this regard, he defended innovation in all areas, such as technology, organisation, marketing, new products, new working methods, new customers and consumers or in new consumption habits.