On 23 October, the AIR Centre welcomed a delegation from Laoshan Laboratory and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Portugal to its Lisbon headquarters for discussions on strengthening international cooperation in marine science and innovation.
The delegation was led by Prof. Xiao Yanheng, Member of the Board of Laoshan Laboratory and Executive Director of its Leading Group for Foreign Affairs, and also included Dr. Jiang Chunhua, Programme Coordinator of the Cooperation and Planning Department; Dr. Ren Chong, Senior Researcher at Laoshan Laboratory; and Prof. Xu Jie, Head of the Department of Ocean Science and Technology at the University of Macau.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on research priorities, scientific capabilities and future collaboration opportunities. Laoshan Laboratory presented its mission, areas of expertise and international engagement activities, while the AIR Centre shared its vision and ongoing initiatives, highlighting its role in fostering scientific partnerships and supporting cooperation with countries across the Global South.
Based in Qingdao, Laoshan Laboratory is one of China's leading marine research institutions. Its work spans marine geology, geophysics, marine biology, physical oceanography, ocean observation technologies, forecasting systems and marine data applications. The laboratory brings together more than 1,000 researchers and maintains strong links with universities, research institutes and industry partners across China.
The meeting also included contributions from representatives of several Portuguese marine and environmental research organisations, helping to provide a broader overview of Portugal's scientific landscape and expertise. Presentations were delivered by Luís P. Almeida (Instituto Dom Luiz, University of Lisbon), Pedro R. Almeida (MARE and ARNET), Adelino Canário (CCMAR), Eduardo Silva (INESC TEC), Amadeu Soares (CESAM) and Isabel Sousa Pinto (CIIMAR), alongside a presentation on the OKEANOS Institute of Marine Sciences. Together, they highlighted Portuguese strengths in areas ranging from coastal processes and marine biodiversity to environmental monitoring, aquatic research networks and ocean technologies.
A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the AIR Centre and Laoshan Laboratory. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in marine science and technology through joint research activities, exchanges of researchers and experts, academic visits, international networking, and the co-organisation of scientific events and conferences.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing ocean knowledge, promoting international scientific collaboration and expanding opportunities for cooperation.
[PC, 23 October 2026]
Collaboration
