The Regional Government launched a public tender under the Azores Operational Programme 2020. Azorean scientists may apply from today to the support for research projects at the portal of the Electronic Desk 2020 at https://www.portugal2020.pt/Balcao2020/.

The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stressed that this tender, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, will provide a total amount of 2.9 million Euros. The previous tender launched by the Government to finance research projects provided an allocation of 720 thousand Euros.

For Fausto Brito e Abreu, this new tender "is critical to ensure that the scientific research projects that are being developed at Azorean research centre may be continued."
"For the first time in the Azores, these tenders will allow the hiring of highly qualified staff, either researchers or technicians, within each project," said Brito e Abreu.

"We hope this tender brings stability to our researchers so that they can develop their work as normally  as possible," the government official said, adding that the "predictability" of financial support to research centres or the hiring of new fellows is one of the most important aspects highlighted by Azorean researchers.

Fausto Brito e Abreu considered that "this contest will contribute to the maintenance of researchers in the Region, who are essential to the prestige and the scientific production of the University of the Azores." In this regard, the government official added that, at a later stage, the Regional Government will launch a new competition for PhD and postdoctoral grants, as soon as the European Social Fund is regulated at national level.

According to the Regional Secretary, the Government aims to launch "similar tenders in 2018 and 2020" to ensure a more regular funding of the Regional Scientific and Technological System as well as to "optimise the use of Community funds under the support framework 2014-2020."

The non-corporate entities included in the Regional Scientific and Technological System may apply to this support scheme until September 13. Each research project must be implemented within a period up to three years and have a maximum eligible cost of 150 thousand Euros.

This competition aims to enhance the base conditions for the scientific production and innovation, which are line with the Research and Innovation Strategies for the Smart Specialisation of the Azores (RIS3).

 This support scheme is also in line with the goals of the regional policy set for the support of the Regional Scientific and Technological System. It falls within its priority axes and the goals objectives of the PRO-SCIENTIA programme.

According to Brito e Abreu, this competition also contributes to "the strengthening of the link between basic research, applied research and the transfer of technological knowledge to the business community."

"The investment in science and research in the Azores increased 75% in 2015 compared to last year," the government official said, recalling, in addition to this tender, the support for publications and scientific publications as well as for the operation of 13 scientific research centres at the University of the Azores.

The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology, the Regional Director for Science and Technology and researchers of the three campuses of the University of the Azores will participate in a videoconference on the application process to this tender to be held Monday, July 20, at 3 PM.