Regional Government increases support for marine research and recruitment of researchers
The Regional Government has opened a call for support to research and development projects in line with the Smart Specialisation defined for the Region (RIS3 Azores) for the "Fisheries and Sea" axis. This investment of 2.2 million Euros is co-financed by ERDF in 1.8 million Euros, while the remaining will be funded by the Regional Budget.
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated that the notice published on the Azores 2020 Operational Programme website is directed to the University of the Azores, which must apply for the implementation of a scientific project in the field of the Sea. In this context, the OKEANOS research centre will be the unit of reference and the project should include the recruitment of 10 doctorates for a three-year period.
According to Gui Menezes, this call aims "to improve the basic conditions for scientific production and innovation, specifically in the priority area of the Sea. It is an area of great importance within the current regional, national and international strategies that also has a significant impact on socio-economic development and cohesion
The Secretary for Science also stressed "the investment in the recruitment of qualified human resources to promote scientific employment and strengthen the regional scientific system, thus contributing to the establishment of researchers and their job stability."
Recently, the Government opened two calls for the regional nodes of the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Relevance: European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and Water Column Observatory - Portugal (EMSO-PT) and the European Marine Biological Resource Centre - Portugal (EMBRC.PT). They represent an overall investment over 2.4 million Euros for the next three years.
The last calls, currently under way, represent an overall investment of 4.6 million Euros," Gui Menezes said, adding they correspond to the "implementation" of "the budget of the Azores 2020 Operational Programme allocated to objective 1.1.1 - "Increase quality scientific production and focus on smart specialisation."
For the Regional Secretary, these support measures not only strengthen the Region's scientific skills, but also promote "its internationalisation, scientific productivity, qualification and recruitment of researchers. In addition, they contribute to the development of the economy of the sea" in the Azores.
The call is available on the Azores 2020 Operational Programme website at http://poacores2020.azores.gov.pt/candidaturas/aviso-no-acores-45-2019-58/ and will be open until January 26.