The President of the Nonagon Association Board of Directors, Arnaldo Machado, participated in a two-day working visit to the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell), with the Regional Director for Science and Technology, Bruno Pacheco, the Vice Rector of the University of Azores, Gabriela Queiroz, the Executive Director of TERINOV, Duarte Pimentel, as well as António Cunha, former rector of the University of Minho and responsible for the cooperation program with UMass@Lowell - Portugal.

The action plan, which was established as part of the visit, was intended to follow up on the papper of understanding signed in June on Terceira Island and to ensure the creation of new research projects and the mobility of researchers and students of advanced training of both sides of the Atlantic.

According to Bruno Pacheco, this visit "ensured that the necessary steps will be taken" for the implementation of the papper of understanding, under which “an investment of around one million euros” is foreseen in the three chairs that will be hosted by University of the Azores and to be funded by the Regional Government, FLAD and FCT.

The Regional Director noted that "it has now been possible to define the next steps, as well as create the necessary conditions" to set up the Innovation HubAIR Center at TERINOV - Science and Technology Park of Terceira, as well as “to identify other areas of involvement among the parties", namely UMass Lowell, the University of the Azores, the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, NONAGON and TERINOV.

With this action plan, the NONAGON business community is expected to receive expert mentoring from UMass@Lowel teachers.