July 15, 2024, will be marked by the inauguration of supercomputing capacity, designed to serve a vast community of users in an operational way, across the Atlantic. This initiative is based on the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) pre-existing collaboration with research groups from Europe and the United States, and is part of the AIR Centre network, an international association dedicated to the Ocean, Space and Climate, which brings together scientific and operational organizations from all over the Atlantic Basin, and whose president is Dr. Paulo Ernani Gadelha Vieira, also a former student of the UERJ.
The Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and its president, Professor Jerson Lima Silva, played a key role in getting us here. The memorandum of understanding signed with the AIR Centre, represented by Professor Miguel Miranda, paves the way for FAPERJ to formally join this community of Atlantic countries.
It is fair to highlight the role of Professors António Silva Neto, Ramiro Neves, Manuela Juliano and Jader Lugon Jr. who are great promoters of training in advanced computing for oceanographic purposes, and active promoters of national and international scientific cooperation in this area. The presence of Rectors from other universities of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and the representation of Laboratório de Métodos Computacionais em Engenharia (LAMCE), a laboratory of testing and numerical modeling of the Federal University, shows well the willingness to cooperate. The name chosen for this equipment Escola de Sagres emphasizes the determination of the project, to connect communities from both sides of the Ocean. He also recalls the relevant role of science and the universities as the basis of social development.
The capacities installed in the scientific community of Rio de Janeiro in all its universities and research units, allow the ambition to become a fundamental center of the Atlantic community of oceanographic modeling.
Further information at  https://www.publico.pt/2024/07/15/ciencia/noticia/escola-sagres-novo-supercomputador-servico-air-centre-2097675
Event
calendar_today July 17, 2026
The AIR Centre took part in the Portuguese Science Summit Innovation 2026, held on 15–16 July at the Lisbon Convention Center, marking the first major event organised by Portugal’s newly established Agency for Research and Innovation (AI²).
Innovation
calendar_today July 16, 2026
On 15 July 2026, the AIR Centre took part in the official visit of Brazil’s Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, marking the formal launch of the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) Office in Lisbon. The new office is located in the same building that also hosts ApexBrasil, Embratur and Sebrae, reinforcing Brazil’s institutional presence in Portugal and expanding opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
Collaboration
calendar_today July 9, 2026
On 2 July, the AIR Centre hosted a meeting at its Lisbon office with the Comendador Anthony Bailey, Honourable Consul-General of His Majesty The King of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic. The discussion brought together AIR Centre Executive Director Miguel Miranda, Deputy Executive Director Mafalda Carapuço, and researcher Ana Faria, marking the beginning of a promising dialogue between the two nations.