NEWS | Vice-President of the Government highlights “excellent research” conducted by University of the Azores

During the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Azorean academy, the Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, highlighted the “excellent research conducted by the University of the Azores.”

The Vice-President of the Government emphasised that the University of the Azores has established itself as a pillar of Azorean autonomy and identity over the past 50 years.

The University of the Azores “has played and continues to play a key role in deepening the history of the Azores, promoting regional cohesion and fostering social, economic and cultural development,” he stressed.

“Year after year, it has produced excellent research that allows us to reach new heights and think ambitiously about the coming years,” he emphasised.

For Artur Lima, knowledge creation and innovation are one of the pillars of sustainable development and internationalisation in the Azores.

“For this reason, the Government remains consistent in its vision, aware of the challenges, and decisive in its solutions,” taking action towards the “continuous implementation of a strategy that values those who engage in science, as well as the institutions where it is developed,” he pointed out.

The Vice-President of the Government reiterated that the academic and professional recognition of researchers is an “unquestionable priority,” as is the stability and predictability of their activity.

In this regard, he recalled that the Regional Government has awarded more than 100 doctoral grants since taking office and has also introduced a new form of support for doctoral students through the payment of tuition fees.

The Vice-President also reiterated the “commitment made and honoured” to support the tripolarity of the University of the Azores, which stood at €350,000 in 2020 and currently stands at €950,000.

Artur Lima mentioned the initiatives underway to boost innovation and research in the Region.

“A regional tenure programme will soon be proposed, a decisive step towards stabilising scientific careers and retaining talent, our talent,” he recalled, adding that “an ambitious overhaul of the Azores Scientific and Technological System and Pro-Scientia is being prepared, aligned with current and future needs.”

Furthermore, “the launch of the first incentive system for business research and development, through Açores2030, is being put in place,” he said.

“These investments and structural measures will boost research, combining it with the growing development of the Azorena business fabric,” emphasised the government official.

“All this effort is recognised by external entities,” he said, noting that the Azores rose again in the European Commission’s Regional Innovation Index in 2025, reaching 70 base points, compared to 67.3 in the previous year. 

“In 2020, we were a Region with an Emerging level of innovation. Last year, we reached the Emerging+ Region level,” he pointed out.

Artur Lima also highlighted the remarkable evolution in the visibility as well as the national and international relevance of the research conducted in the Region, noting that the “University of the Azores plays a decisive role in this regard.”

On a final note, the Vice-President of the Government highlighted the current “historic moment as one of intense competitiveness and technological disruption.”

In this context, “the future of the Azores will be shaped by the creation of knowledge, technological innovation and the ability to put these developments at the service of all Azoreans,” he said.

“The University of the Azores, both a pillar of autonomy and a foundation for the internationalisation of the Azores, will continue to be essential for us to navigate the challenges ahead,” concluded Artur Lima.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU