BIOPOLIS and NCPOR sign Memorandum of Understanding for polar and ocean biodiversity exploration
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On September 30, 2026, Associação BIOPOLIS (CIBIO) and India's National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The ceremony took place online and celebrated a new partnership for joint research focused on "Biodiversity Exploration in Polar and Ocean realm".
The event featured welcoming speeches by the director of NCPOR, Dr Thamban Meloth, and the director of CIBIO, Prof. Nuno Ferrand Almeida, who formalised the agreement. The ceremony highlighted the scientific connection between the institutions based in Vairão, Portugal, and Vasco-da-Gama, Goa.
Valid for five years, this strategic agreement aims to promote collaborative development and innovation in the biological, polar and ocean sciences. Key areas of shared research include studying the implications of climate change on biodiversity, genetics, ecology and evolution. The partnership will also cover the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) to environmental and biological sciences, as well as bioprospecting studies in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Among the specific and immediate actions outlined in the document, a major highlight is the development of joint research initiatives focused on analysing ancient DNA (aDNA). This joint effort aims to reconstruct past ecosystems by studying ancient genetic material. To support this work, an advanced research lab will be established, alongside the development of robust methods for sample collection, processing and data analysis.
Additionally, the memorandum outlines a plan to exchange students, researchers, and technical personnel between CIBIO and NCPOR. This mobility is designed to foster knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the joint use of resources and laboratory facilities. The agreement also encompasses the development of collaborative international research projects to secure funding, joint field expeditions, and the organisation of academic symposia and conferences. The institutional coordination of this partnership will be led by Rahul Mohan on behalf of NCPOR and by Fraddry D'Souza on behalf of BIOPOLIS.
