The Regional Director for Science and Technology stated in Lagoa, São Miguel Island, that the European BIOTRANSFER project brings together "the interests of research centres and companies, but also of financing agencies."
 
"It is a huge responsibility to take part in these projects," stated Bruno Pacheco. However, "they give shape to the public policy goals pursued by the Regional Government in the areas of Science and Technology."
 
The Regional Director spoke at the "Transfer Seminar of the BIOTRANSFER 2 Project," an event attended by two dozen participants from the regions of Macaronesia: the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. They are part of this project financed by INTERREG MAC 2014-2020 Territorial Cooperation programme.
 
Bruno Pacheco pointed out that BIOTRANSFER 2 "is clearly oriented towards the transfer of knowledge," adding that this "is an increasingly relevant theme given the need to provide our production fabric with more and better knowledge."
 
This project aims to implement biotechnology research transfer model oriented to business profitability and the mobilisation of business flows. According to the Regional Director, there are "strong expectations regarding the final results" of the project.
 
In the Azores, BIOTRANSFER is coordinated by the Regional Fund for Science and Technology and involves the companies Finançor, UNILEITE and MUSAMI.
 
In his speech, Bruno Pacheco highlighted the initiatives developed by the Regional Government, such as Transfer +, an investment of more than eight million Euros for a three-year period. It presents measures such as funding line, already in force, for research and development projects (R&D) in a business context as well as "new tools, currently under preparation, such as R&D vouchers, patent vouchers, matching vouchers and R&D centres in business context."
 
The Regional Director emphasised that research and development centres in business context may be "a good opportunity to further enhance the transfer dynamics" of knowledge. In this regard, he reiterated that "this is a mandatory partnership tool between companies and the Scientific and Technological System of the Azores, but also between entities such as NONAGON, TERINOV and INOVA."
 
According to Bruno Pacheco, this tool will ensure "a greater commitment between production areas and the scientific system, always bearing in mind that the Region's focus should be oriented to the areas where we know that we can make a difference."
 
Accordingly, the government official pointed out the case of agroindustry and agriculture, adding that "biotechnology should be the support to boost the value of this economic area."
 
Under the scope of Transfer +, the Regional Director also recalled that the call for post-doctoral grants in business context is under way. The deadline for submission of applications will be extended to the end of this year.