The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology, Gui Menezes, accompanies the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, on a visit to Terceira Island, where the General Assembly of the Association AIR Center takes place.
 
During this meeting, José Joaquín Brito, one of the officials responsible for the Oceanic Platform of Canary Islands, will be formally sworn in as Executive Director of the AIR Center.
 
Gui Menezes pointed out that this is "a further step towards the implementation" of the AIR Center, adding that "we have created the conditions for the development of an action plan focused on the scientific areas identified in the declarations of Praia da Vitória, Florianópolis and Las Palmas, namely climate change, marine resources and biodiversity, among others.
 
According to the Regional Secretary, Joaquín Brito has "an in-depth knowledge of the reality of the Azorean scientific system, particularly in the area of marine sciences," therefore being an "asset for the Region."
 
Gui Menezes also expressed his hope that the Azores may contribute to "the implementation of a scientific agenda for the Atlantic."
 
Besides the meeting of the General Assembly of the AIR Center Association, the visit of the Minister of Science to Terceira Island will also discuss the Development Plan of the AIR Center, which provides for the establishment of an Earth Observation this year.
 
This plan will be the subject of a protocol between the Azorean Government and the Foundation for Science and Technology with the aim of stimulating and fostering new research and innovation activities to be leveraged through the AIR Center, with the creation of a team of Earth observation researchers.
 
The presentation of Terceira Tech Island project by the Vice-President of the Government, Sérgio Ávila, in the space dedicated to programming boot camps in Praia da Vitória and the visit to the Terceira Island Science and Technology Park - Terinov in Angra do Heroísmo are other items on the agenda.