The President of the Government of the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro, announced today the opening of the tender for the use of spaces designed for companies at NONAGON - São Miguel Technological Park. This measure will stimulate Azorean economy through the creation of new conditions for the regional business sector.

"The São Miguel Technological Park is an infrastructure that aims to project the Region and provide the business sector with conditions to seize the potential of wealth generation and employment creation," stated Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government spoke to journalists at the end of a visit to the first building of NONAGON, an investment of nine million Euros that is nearing completion.

The building has more than thirty spaces that can be used by companies as well as by business incubators and the Azores StartUp project; the latter is currently in its early stages.

"By the end of the year, we expect to have achieved the conditions to fully start the installation of companies," said the President of the Government, who was accompanied by the Vice-President, Sérgio Ávila, and the Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology, Fausto Brito e Abreu.

Vasco Cordeiro noted that "the interest demonstrated by companies exceeds the space available, not only at a regional level but also at a national and international level. In this regard, the government official added that the Regional Government's commitment to this investment has led to the preparation procedures for the construction of a second building, also linked to the business area.

"The reason why we are already moving forward is due to the interest demonstrated by companies. This investment, which is at a final stage, is ongoing and is being implemented to serve the Azorean economy and companies," stated the President of the Government.
 
However, Vasco Cordeiro reminded that the investment in the development of the scientific and technological component of regional economy is not limited to São Miguel. It also covers the Terceira Technological Park, whose functional programme should be completed by the end of September in order to schedule the submission of projects in the end of first quarter of 2015.
This stage will be followed by the opening of this infrastructure. In turn, the Faial Business Park was created to promote the development of marine sciences.

"There is a coordinated intervention and a coherent intervention that will transform our potential into an effective use by Azorean companies," said Vasco Cordeiro.

The President of the Government also revealed that the Centre of Volcanology and Seismic Risk Assessment (CVARG) of the University of the Azores will be installed in the São Miguel Technological Park with the aim of "reinforcing this technology hub." It plays an important role in the dissemination of scientific knowledge and potentialities of economic growth in this area."