New Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Azores under public consultation in August
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated today that the first version of the second Research and Innovation Strategy for the Smart Specialisation of the Azores "is more motivating, robust and adaptable."
Gui Menezes spoke, by video conference, at the meeting of the Regional Innovation Council (CRI), where he presented the proposal for the new Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Azores (RIS3). The document will be analysed by the CRI until August 14, followed by an extended public consultation period.
The Regional Secretary stressed that the introduction of new areas “will respond to the challenges of the Azores in coming years,” adding that “he is satisfied” with the application of the current RIS3 strategy.
“The Azores have made a quantitative and qualitative leap in terms of innovation and science,” said the government official. In this regard, he recalled that the Region “has been a pioneer nationwide” in the implementation of RIS3 and is also “being innovative” with the proposal now presented for the new specialisation strategy.
For the new RIS3, adjustments were made to the priority axes, which will be "Agriculture and Agroindustry," "Sea and Blue Growth," "Tourism and Heritage." It will also include an emerging area, "Space-Earth Interactions," as a strategic investment of the Regional Government.
The new strategy also presents a line of intervention that associates the challenges of society with the areas of economic impact. In this context, a matrix with horizontal axes is proposed: "Territory, resources and circular economy," "Environment, climate and biogeodiversity," "Technologies and digital transfer," "Quality of life and challenges of society" and "Atlantic and geostrategic dynamics."
RIS3 Açores, since its inception, also contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and this target is ever more visible in this version as far as the SDGs are the main vectors for the future definition lines of action.
In 2014, the Regional Government began developing a Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation to be implemented in the Region until 2020, with three thematic axes, namely "Fisheries and Sea," "'Agriculture, Livestock and Agroindustry" and "Tourism."
In his speech, the Regional Secretary recalled that the Regional Government promoted, early this year, a cycle of public sessions with broad participation in the context of the assessment and review of RIS3 Açores, with a view to redefining the strategic priorities of the Smart Specialisation Strategy. This process involved the consultation of more than a hundred entities.
According to Gui Menezes, "the collection of input and the involvement of the various regional stakeholders in this type of action is of the utmost importance for the discussion of the new design and strategic development goals of RIS3 Açores."
The Regional Innovation Council, one of the bodies of the governance structure of RIS3 Açores, is responsible for analysing the implementation of this smart strategy as well as for assessing and approving the proposals for the review of RIS3.
In addition to the governmental entity responsible for the area of Science and Technology, the CRI includes representatives from the University of the Azores, the business sector per RIS3 Açores domain, the Society for Business Development of the Azores (SDEA), the Science and Technology Parks, the Association of Municipalities of the Azores, and the Research Centres per RIS3 Açores domain acknowledged within the scope of the Azores Scientific and Technological System (SCTA).