First Azores 2030 calls for Research and Development published - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Science, Innovation and Development, informs that the first calls for the Regional Specific Goal: Developing and strengthening research and innovation capabilities and the adoption of advanced technologies (ERDF) have already been published, amounting to about six million Euros, including ERDF and Regional Budget funds.

These funds, implemented over a three-year period, correspond to about 25% of the overall funding available until 2030.

The ACORES2030-2024-13 call - Research excellence in the Autonomous Region of the Azores - Young researchers is a novelty at a national level, as it allows recent doctoral graduates (less than five years) to develop proofs of concept from doctoral theses with high potential for innovation and economic exploitation. Each project allows a doctoral graduate to be employed for three years, with a maximum amount of €160,740 per project.

According to Artur Lima, it is important to highlight that "the projects only cover employment contracts, which is another step towards eliminating precariousness in research careers."

The ACORES2030-2024-12 call - Excellence in research in the Autonomous Region of the Azores - Chairs, which is equally innovative, will fund researchers and research teams who have obtained chairs from international institutions.

The Vice-President of the Government noted that "this is a momentum that has been observed in recent years, as a result of the merit of regional research, and one that must be endowed with the appropriate resources for its development."

At this stage, the call provides for the funding of two chairs, amounting to 160 thousand Euros per project, requiring the hiring of highly qualified human resources for its implementation and development.

Regarding ACORES2030-2024-11 call - Scientific Research and Technological Development in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, it includes projects that can reach almost 500 thousand Euros over three years, requiring the hiring of, at least, one doctorate, with applied research as the main focus.

The aim is to guarantee the impact of the projects and the multidisciplinary work, aligned with the RIS3 Azores areas.

According to Artur Lima, the Regional Government expects that "the Region will converge by the end of the 2021-2027 period with the level of R&D investment at a national level and with the Community targets set out for this area and those laid out in the National Partnership Agreement."

Furthermore, "incorporating innovation into the products and services created in the Azores" will "ensure greater competitiveness for the regional economy."