HI and the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology of the Regional Government of the Azores sign cooperation protocol

The General Director of the Hydrographic Institute, Rear Admiral António Coelho Cândido, received on November 3, Dr. Gui Menezes, Regional Secretary of the Sea, Science and Technology of tthe Regional Government of the Azores, for a visit to the Hydrographic Institute and signing of the cooperation protocol between these two institutions, for technical and scientific cooperation.

The purpose of this protocol is to facilitate the development of activities of mutual interest, in particular those related to the marine environment, involving Research, Development and Innovation (ID & I), Training and the diffusion of knowledge.

This agreement will allow the development of scientific activity in the region in support of public policies of the sea, through partnerships with universities or research centers of the Azores, which can thus coordinate their scientific activity with those of the Hydrographic Institute, enhancing existing funding and sharing technical resources in the field of hydrography, oceanography, navigation, marine geology and nautical cartography.

The Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology of the Government of the Azores has the responsibility to manage one of the main development factors of the Azores - the Sea - including in its range of skills, fisheries and aquaculture, environmental conservation of the marine environment, oceanographic exploitation, licensing of uses of the sea and its bottoms, coastal borders and cooperation with the National Maritime Authority; this Secretariat should also coordinate Science and Technology policies in the Region and the relationship with the University of the Azores and other entities representing the Information Society and Knowledge.

The Hydrographic Institute is an organ of the Navy and a State Laboratory. Its mission is to ensure research and technological development activities related to marine sciences and techniques, with a view to their priority application in marine military operations, in particular in the areas of hydrography, hydrographic cartography, navigation safety, oceanography and the defense of the marine environment.

The Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology of the Government of the Azores and the Hydrographic Institute recognize the existence of common objectives in their respective missions, namely in the field of training, research, ocean mapping and monitoring, and scientific and technological exploring the potential of each and enhancing the action of both, at the service of the country.