Bolieiro presents Azores as sustainability and innovation leader in Lisbon
Azores GuideThe Azores Government president pointed to climate monitoring, marine protection, ocean research, space infrastructure and tourism certification at the Game Changers Forum VI.
Azores Government president José Manuel Bolieiro on Saturday presented the region as an example of leadership in sustainability, innovation and the use of strategic resources during the Game Changers Forum VI at Lisbon's MEO Arena. He spoke on the panel "Smart & Resilient Territories: Shaping the Future", at a forum whose main speaker was former United States president Barack Obama.
Bolieiro said the Azores had turned geographic constraints into development opportunities. He said the archipelago, once identified by its small size, distance from major decision-making centres and reduced population, is now recognised for its strategic Atlantic position and opportunities for the region, Portugal and the European Union.
"Portugal is bigger with the Azores and the European Union gains relevance in transatlantic relations," Bolieiro said. He also described investment in skills, science and technology as a pillar of the regional development strategy.
Among the examples cited were new meteorological radars on São Miguel and Flores, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, and the Atlantic Climate Observatory, which is co-financed by the Azores Government and collects atmospheric data for climate-change studies, including greenhouse-gas monitoring. Bolieiro said the radars improve available information and strengthen prevention and response to adverse weather phenomena.
He also highlighted the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network, which covers about 287 thousand square kilometres, the MARTEC Technopole on Faial, and the scientific research vessel Azores Ocean. In the space sector, he pointed to Santa Maria, home to the headquarters of the Portuguese Space Agency, Portugal Space, the Santa Maria Teleport and the RAEGE Station. He also cited the EarthCheck Gold Level II tourism certification achieved in 2026.
The site previously reported that Bolieiro called Azorean autonomy a strategic global centre.
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Azores Guide
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