Regional Government finances hiring of ten doctorate graduates for Okeanos Institute, Faial Island
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated today in Horta that the Regional Government has been working in every way to support regional research centres and the hiring of qualified human resources.
Gui Menezes spoke at the signing ceremony of the financing agreement for the Strategic Project for the Sea, which will support the hiring of ten doctorate researchers for the University of the Azores over the next three years.
"Throughout this legislative period, we have made a differentiated investment in Science," the government official said, adding that "there has been a great concern on the part of the Regional Government to value the work of Azorean researchers."
"This agreement demonstrates the importance we attach to human resources," Gui Menezes stressed, adding that "we can have the best platforms and infrastructures, but without qualified and capable human resources nothing is possible."
The project designated as "MarAZ Researchers: Consolidating a body of Marine Science researchers in the Azores" corresponds to an investment of 2.2 million Euros, for a three-year period, with an overall allocation of 300 thousand Euros from the Regional Government.
It is primarily intended to improve the conditions for scientific production and innovation, through the increase of human resources, thus contributing to the consolidation of scientific and technological areas in priority matters such as the sea and fisheries.
This operation will be carried out by hiring 10 researchers with adequate profile, proven experience in priority scientific areas and high-quality scientific production demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the marine ecosystems of the Azores as well as of regional, national and European public policies in this field.
According to the Regional Secretary, "some of these researchers will have the opportunity to join the University staff and be part of its management bodies, thus maintaining and strengthening the research dynamics of the Okeanos Institute in areas that are strategic for the Regional Government."
Accordingly, Gui Menezes stressed that the signing of this protocol has "great significance," noting that "it is now up to the University to do its part, with the opening of calls for the hiring of 10 researchers."
"We are currently reviewing the RIS3 Specialisation Strategy, which will continue to focus on the Sea and Knowledge," said the government official. As he emphasised, the Regional Government intends to "build a new research vessel to give shape to this strategy, which will endow the Region with more autonomy and capabilities to deepen the knowledge of the Azores Sea.
"Only with new platforms can we make a qualitative leap," the Regional Secretary said, defending that it will be "a very important step for the Azores, enabling the researchers at the Okeanos Institute to lead new projects in the next new Community framework aimed at research, Horizon Europe. They will also have the possibility of exploring new areas of knowledge regarding our sea, with impacts not only for the Region but also for the country and Europe."