The Azores and Catalonia want to cooperate on concrete projects in the areas of the blue economy and ocean protection, this was announced today at an international forum in Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island.
“Catalonia sees the Azores as a strategic partner committed to building solid bridges of scientific, technological, economic and social cooperation,” stated the vice-president of the Regional Government of the Azores, Artur Lima.
“We can build bridges between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, we can connect researchers, bring companies closer together, develop European projects, share data and knowledge, we can also test new solutions for decarbonization, for the blue economy, for biodiversity and for the digitalization of our ports,” highlighted the representative of the Government of Catalonia in Portugal, Rui Reis.
Representatives of the two regions spoke at the opening session of the international forum “Smart Oceans: Sustainability, Technology and Economic Growth,” which runs until Tuesday in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island.
The vice-president of the Azorean executive, who oversees the areas of Science, Innovation and Development, noted that, despite being distant, the two regions are united by the “commitment to knowledge” and by the “conviction that the transition to a sustainable economy is increasingly built through networks.”
“The protection of marine biodiversity and the development of emerging technologies applied to the oceans do not admit isolated responses. They require robust international alliances, cooperation and clarified public policies,” he stressed.
Artur Lima underscored that the Azores “are not just a vast maritime territory,” but “a region of excellence for innovation, for sustainability and for research.”
“Here in the Azores we assume, without hesitation, within our dimension, of course, our responsibility in meeting the global sustainability goals. We want to be pioneers in marine propulsion, in decarbonizing port infrastructures and in empowering our coastal communities,” he reinforced.
The official said he hopes that, from the meeting taking place in Angra do Heroísmo, concrete solutions will emerge to protect the sea and to boost the economy of the two regions.
The idea was shared by the Catalan government’s representative, who considered that the forum should be “the starting point for new cooperation initiatives.”
“That the Azores and Catalonia stop being merely two territories separated by geography and become two territories linked by a common agenda for the ocean. An agenda based on knowledge, on innovation, on sustainability and on European cooperation, because the future of the ocean will also be the future of Europe. And Europe will be stronger if it can transform the diversity of its territories into a common strength,” he pointed out.
Rui Reis stressed that the ocean is seen by both territories as “a space of knowledge, of innovation and of economic opportunities,” advocating greater cooperation among governments, universities and companies.
“The Azores have an absolutely singular position in the Atlantic, an extraordinary natural and scientific wealth and a unique experience as an insular and oceanic territory. Catalonia has a highly developed ecosystem of science, technology, innovation, industry and port activity, with Barcelona as one of the great maritime gateways of the Mediterranean. We therefore have different experiences, but complementary. And we should not view this complementarity as a difference; we should turn it into an advantage,” he said.
The forum “Smart Oceans: Sustainability, Technology and Economic Growth” brings together in Angra do Heroísmo representatives from the two regions.
Among the speakers from the Azores are the regional directors of Maritime Policies and of Science, Innovation and Development, the University of the Azores, Okeanos, Blue Azores, Terinov, Nonagon, Lotaçor, Portos dos Açores and the Observatory of Ecosystems and Digital Infrastructures.
The Catalonia delegation includes BlueNetCat, Port de Barcelona, Ports de la Generalitat, Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica and DETA – Disruptive & Emerging Technology Alliance.
Also represented in this initiative is the United Nations Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
