The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Science and Technology, promotes the first meeting of the Regional Innovation Council (CRI) on February. This advisory body is part of the governance structure in charge of implementing the Regional Smart Research Strategy (RIS3 Azores).
 
This meeting will take place at NONAGON - São Miguel Science and Technology Park in Lagoa. It marks the beginning of the works developed by CRI as a RIS3 governing body in the Azores, which will monitor the implementation process of this strategy.
 
The Regional Director for Science and Technology stressed that the beginning of the works of CRI "is essential for the success of the Azores RIS3."
 
Bruno Pacheco stated that the implementation of this strategy "is based on the principles of collaborative leadership, cooperation, interaction and sharing among its governing bodies. Moreover, it is also dependent on the multiple players involved in the collective process of entrepreneurial discovery of research and innovation as well as of open and inclusive governance."
 
The main powers of CRI are as follows: evaluating and validating the documents presented by the Executive Committee, presenting contributions and proposals for action lines for the Azores RIS3, proposing evaluation mechanisms, promoting actions to disseminate the results achieved, and making recommendations to the Executive Committee and to different Thematic Working Groups (other RIS3 bodies).
 
The Council is also in charge of making recommendations to the governing bodies regarding planning and programming instruments, assessing and approving proposals for the revision of the Azores RIS3 and issuing opinions about the implementation of this strategy.
 
The Regional Innovation Council is coordinated by the Regional Director for Science and Technology as President of the RIS3 Executive Committee. It is composed of the following members: a representative of the University of the Azores, a representative of the business sector for every RIS3 field, a representative of the Association of Municipalities of the Azores and a representative of Research Centres for every RIS3 field, as recognised under the Azores Scientific and Technological System (SCTA).
 
In addition to the permanent members, it is expected that CRI will include other representatives of other entities whose contribution to innovation may be considered relevant as well as observer members. 
 
The implementation of the Azores RIS3 required the creation of a governance structure, as defined in the Resolution of the Council of the Government no.109/2017 of October 16. It comprises three entities: the Executive Commission, the Regional Innovation Council and Thematic Working Groups.