The University of São José (USJ) in Macau wants to help create a marine and environmental biotechnology base in the region that connects China and Portugal, a director of the institution told Lusa.
In October, USJ created the Sino-Portuguese Joint Laboratory of Marine and Environmental Sciences, in partnership with the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP), the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The director of the USJ Institute of Science and Environment said that the project wants to “foster the development in Macau of a technological ‘hub’ linked to blue and green biotechnology”, an area where “the China Portugal partnership can bring good results”.
David Gonçalves pointed out the goal of ensuring that research does not stop at laboratories and reaches the “implementation of this innovation in the market”, through connections with companies.
The biologist added that one of the future objectives is to establish partnerships “with companies from China, Portugal and some that already exist in Macau to establish a business network”.
Gonçalves said that biotechnology is “an interesting area, where there are many small companies emerging in Portugal today”.
The country has been “a pioneer in a certain modern way of looking at the ocean as a resource that must be exploited in a sustainable way”, argued the researcher, pointing to the investment in aquaculture as an example.
Portugal has taken “interesting steps” in defining protected areas in its Exclusive Economic Zone and China “has some interest” in the marine research carried out in the country, said the academic.
On the other hand, Gonçalves highlighted, China is “extremely advanced” in monitoring global oceanic processes and has “great technical sophistication” when it comes to research ships, submersibles and remotely operated vehicles.
“Successful teams could be created here to investigate certain topics at sea”, argued the president of the Association in Macau for Scientific Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
Gonçalves gave as an example the proliferation of algae, “a problem that affects mainland Portugal”, and new techniques and methods to guarantee aquaculture that is “in fact sustainable and that allows the natural populations” of fish to be safeguarded.
Another potential area of research is the exploration of biological resources that may have commercial uses, from the food industry to medicines, said the biologist.
“Often they can not only be new molecules, but also give value to waste that exists in industries, such as the aquaculture industry”, added Gonçalves.
In connection with the new laboratory, USJ has already presented plans for a degree in biotechnology to the education regulator in Macau, the Directorate of Education and Youth Development Services, said the rector.
Stephen Morgan told Lusa that he hopes that the degree, which will be offered in conjunction with the Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at UCP, will be able to start in the 2024/2025 academic year.
The rector added that, in September 2024, USJ should start offering a double degree degree, also in partnership with UCP, in environmental sciences.
