The President of the Government received the new Dean of the University of the Azores at an audience, where he conveyed the Government's availability to reinforce the "strategic partnership" between the Region and this higher education institution.

"The Government of the Azores considers the University of the Azores (UAç) as an important partner in the mission to develop the Region," said Vasco Cordeiro after the meeting with João Luís Gaspar that was held in Ponta Delgada.

Taking this into consideration, the Government presented to the University a Contract for Employment Creation and Economic Growth with a financial allocation of one million Euros for 2014, stressed Vasco Cordeiro. The government official hopes that the negotiations will be concluded shortly after the elections that were held in the University.

"According to the provisions of the contract, the Regional Government will pay one Euro to the University for each Euro earned by this institution in the course of its research activities," said the President of the Government to journalists.

For the President of the Government, this solution will ensure a greater interaction between the University of the Azores and its research activities, and the archipelago's business fabric.

As Vasco Cordeiro revealed, the possibility of extending the partnership between the University and the Region to other areas such as Education was another topic addressed at this meeting.

With regard to the University's tripartite structure, the President of the Government revealed that the Government is not financially conditioned as it demonstrated last year by doubling the amount allocated to the University in this area, which represented a total investment of 720 thousand Euros.

"However, there is an aspect that must be safeguarded: the purpose of the transfer of these funds and the needs to be fulfilled," stressed Vasco Cordeiro. According to him, the debate on this theme cannot solely be focused on "funding needs."

Recently, the Council of the Government has approved a Resolution allocating the sum of 350 thousand Euros to the development of the University's tripartite structure, which will support its operation.