The Braga Municipal Chamber has taken a significant step in enhancing the Municipal Aerodrome by signing a strategic cooperation agreement with the University of Minho. This partnership aims to strengthen the infrastructure's role in aeronautical training, research, and innovation, bridging academic knowledge with businesses and development opportunities for the municipality and the region.
The agreement, finalized at the Municipal Aerodrome of Braga, embodies the municipality's commitment to optimizing existing facilities through new activities and collaborations. The goal is to foster an environment conducive to attracting talent, stimulating business connections, and boosting investment. Through cooperation with the School of Engineering at UMinho, the Aerodrome will host applied teaching, experimentation, testing, and technological demonstration activities, particularly related to the Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Aerospace Engineering.
João Rodrigues, President of the Braga Municipal Chamber, emphasized that this partnership reflects a vision to leverage municipal assets for the benefit of knowledge and territorial development. "The Braga Aerodrome is a municipal asset with extraordinary potential that we aim to fully exploit. By opening our doors and establishing this bridge with the University of Minho, we ensure that academic knowledge directly impacts the lives of the population and attracts talent, investment, and new business partners to our municipality. The relationship between the Chamber and the University is the greatest and truest engine of development for this territory," he stated.
Rodrigues further noted the municipality's focus on qualifying and returning public facilities to the community. "The aerodrome possesses immense potential and exceptional conditions that were not being fully utilized. Although the Aerospace Engineering course is based in Guimarães, these boundaries dissolve when there is commitment and the capacity to work together for the good of the territory," he added.
Pedro Arezes, Rector of the University of Minho, highlighted the scientific aspect and the territorial connection of the agreement. "This partnership reinforces the University of Minho's identity of always having its scientific and pedagogical projects grounded in the territory. This is not merely a ceremonial act; it foresees an annual action plan with practical activities in a real-world setting and the university's commitment to envisioning the future development and projection possibilities of this operational platform," he explained.
António Vicente, President of the School of Engineering at the University of Minho, underscored the formative significance of the understanding for the course's students. "This is a golden opportunity to advance our students' training. The agreement perfectly complements our efforts, linking Aerospace Engineering to a real aeronautical facility and opening doors to new partnerships with companies and entities in the sector."
The implementation and evaluation of this cooperation protocol will be overseen by an accompanying committee, co-chaired by the Municipal Executive and the Presidency of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho.
