The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures, has established the legal framework regulating the access to natural resources for scientific purposes, including biological and genetic resources, by-products, air, water, minerals and soil as well as the transfer of resources collected and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits resulting from their use.

The rich natural and genetic heritage of the archipelago has an enormous potential that can constitute one of the cornerstones of the social and economic development of the Region and even of the country so “it was vital to regulate these matters. We need to protect our natural and genetic heritage and safeguard the sharing of benefits resulting from these collections whenever they are exported to other regions or countries,” stated the Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Infrastructures.

The Region has unique natural resources which, in some cases, raising the interest of the national and international scientific community, and for that reason it was necessary to undertake efforts to ensure the protection and conservation of the regional natural heritage. This legal document also provides the sharing of financial, technical and knowledge benefits resulting from industrial/business activities that use regional natural resources.

“There are plentiful natural and genetic resources in hydrothermal vents. The Azores sea or the extremophiles in the Furnas hot springs have raised the interest of the national and international scientific communities. And now we have a legal framework that safeguards this heritage,” stressed the Regional Secretary.

José Contente spoke after a visit to the facilities and services of Cybermap - Internet and Information Systems, emphasising the fact that the Azores are ahead in the implementation of the Community Directive Inspire and the first to put into operation the platform IDEA - Azorean Interactive Infrastructure for Spatial Data.

The Regional Secretary the fact Cybermap is a successful company and reference in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Internet in the Region. “This company, awarded with the Certificate of Quality, produces contents which are very important for the Azores in the area of Geographic Information Systems. Cybermap has established partnerships with the Regional Government in projects of this nature and has been able to innovate and grow over the 11 years of existence,” the Regional Secretary stated, adding that “it is worth noting the examples of success of these companies, Cybermap and others, which have acknowledged the importance of technology as a key factor in competitiveness nowadays.

This is a motive of pride for us as the Regional Government has given special attention to information and communication technologies, promoting the development of projects.”

Cybermap - Internet and Geographic Information Systems, headquartered in Ponta Delgada, has received numerous awards in recent years; its skills have been distinguished by Microsoft. This company is the representative of ESRI in the Azores, the HP partner in the archipelago and it has also developed a specific training programme.