Bolieiro highlights leadership of the Azores in sustainability and innovation

O president of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, highlighted the role of the region as an example of “leadership” in sustainability, innovation and the appreciation of its strategic resources, in Game Changers Forum VI.

Acting in the panel “Smart & Resilient Territories: Shaping the Future”, Saturday, at Game Changers Forum VI, which took place at MEO Arena in Lisbon, and had as main speaker the former president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, Bolieiro identified the Azores as “an example of transforming geographical constraints into development opportunities.”.

The leader of the Azorean executive, quoted in a press release, highlighted the “centrality of the archipelago growing in the international geopolitical and geoeconomic context”.

Bolieiro said that the Azores have long been identified by their small size, distance from the large decision-making centres and small population, but today they are “recognized by their strategic position in the Atlantic and the opportunities they represent not only for those living in the region, but also for Portugal and the European Union”.

“Portugal is greater with the Azores and the European Union gains relevance in transatlantic relations,” he stressed, stressing the geostrategic importance of the archipelago in the international context.

Bolieiro considered that “the transition of knowledge is decisive to prepare the Azores for the challenges of the future”, highlighting the investment in skills, science and technology as one of the pillars of the regional development strategy.

José Manuel Bolieiro presented several examples of the Azores' activities in strategic areas, demonstrating how an island and outermost region can play an important role in responding to global challenges.

In the field of climate transition, he mentioned the strengthening of the archipelago’s meteorological monitoring capacity, with the installation of new radars on the islands of São Miguel and Flores, an investment financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which allows “to improve the quality of available information” and to enhance the prevention and response to adverse weather phenomena.

José Manuel Bolieiro also mentioned the investment in the Atlantic Climate Observatory, co-financed by the Government of the Azores, to collect key atmospheric data for the study of climate change, including monitoring of greenhouse gases.

The blue economy and the protection of the oceans were another example of leadership presented, with the ruler highlighting the creation of the Network of Protected Marine Areas of the Azores (RAMPA), covering about 287,000 square kilometers.

The President of the Government of the Azores stressed the international dimension of this initiative, which puts the Azores on the “frontline of marine biodiversity conservation and demonstrates the possibility of reconciling environmental protection with sustainable use of ocean resources”.

It also highlighted the investment in Tecnopolo MARTEC, on Faial Island, designed as a pole of research, innovation and technological development linked to the sea, as well as the new scientific research ship Azores Ocean, which strengthens the capacity to produce scientific knowledge on the Atlantic Ocean.

The importance of the space sector was also addressed by the Azorean ruler, who identified access to space as one of the areas of the economy of the future with potential for the Azores.

In this regard, he highlighted the position of the island of Santa Maria, where the Portuguese Space Agency – Portugal Space is located, and where infrastructure such as the Teleporto de Santa Maria and the RAEGE Station – Atlantic Network of Geodynamic and Space Stations are installed.

Tourist sustainability was another example presented, with international recognition through the EarthCheck Gold Level II certification, achieved in 2026.