José Manuel Bolieiro confirms Azores' "identity" as geopolitical and geostrategic asset - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Azorean Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, welcomed the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, as part of a science and innovation roadmap aimed at deepening knowledge about the region's installed capacities and consolidating the Azores' strategic potential in the fields of space and the sea.

The visit, which began on the island of São Miguel last Friday, continued today on the island of Santa Maria, a location that José Manuel Bolieiro considered particularly important in the space sector due to its existing infrastructures and the development ambitions that the Azorean Government has been consolidating.

"Santa Maria is a hotspot due to its capacity in terms of access to space and data retrieval, which we distribute around the world to improve our understanding of what is happening in the air, in space, on land and at sea," he said.

For the head of the Azorean Government, the geographical identity of the archipelago, combined with the existing skills, represents an opportunity for national and European development.

"The Azores' existing capacity, coupled with our geographical identity and opportunity, generates geopolitical and geostrategic added value for the country," he stressed, defending that strengthening this path requires joint investment.

"We all need to make complementary investments. It cannot be just the public investment capacity of the Region or the private investment of regional entrepreneurs, but one that is also national and international," he added.

The President of the Government also pointed out that this first-hand contact with ongoing projects and structures will help consolidate a clearer vision of their scope.

"I firmly believe that the Minister, now that he is more familiar with these capabilities, will also better understand their potential, the potential of the Azores and the potential of Portugal in the fields of science, technology and our geography, both in the space economy and the blue economy," stated the President of the Government. In this regard, he emphasised that "the Azores lend an Atlantic dimension to Portugal like no other territory in the country — but we are the country."

On that occasion, Fernando Alexandre acknowledged the growing importance of the Region in the current international context, stating that "the Azores today are a Region that, in the geopolitical context, is even more important for Portugal and the European Union."

The Minister also highlighted "the importance of science and innovation for the country."

The agenda in Santa Maria included visits to the Portuguese Space Agency, the Santa Maria Teleport and the RAEGE Station – Atlantic Network of Geodynamic and Space Stations, as well as follow-up meetings on ongoing projects and development prospects in this strategic area for this island and the Azores. The programme also included a visit to the Malbusca Launch Centre, the presentation of projects for Santa Maria at the AEP headquarters, and initiatives linked to space education projects involving the Bento Rodrigues Basic Education and Secondary School.

The itinerary now continues on the island of Faial, where the delegation will visit the OKEANOS Institute, a research unit of the University of the Azores, and participate in initiatives dedicated to marine technologies, including actions aimed at promoting digital skills in schools.

This visit reinforces institutional cooperation between the National Government and the Azorean Government, at a time when the Region is increasingly demonstrating its contribution in the areas of knowledge, scientific research, technological innovation and new opportunities linked to the sea and space.

The visit to the island of Santa Maria included the Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão, the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, the Mayor of Vila do Porto, Bárbara Chaves, the President of the Portuguese Space Agency, Ricardo Conde, the Vice-President of the Portuguese Space Agency, Eduardo Ferreira, the President of EMA-Space, André Craveiro, and the President of RAEGE, Luísa Magalhães.