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Activity Funded

Mountain Research Center

Centro de Investigação de Montanha

Reference
UID/00690/2025
Project Start Date
2025-01-01
Project End Date
2029-12-31
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Agricultural sciences
Funding Program
Avaliação UID 2023/2024

Abstract

The Mountain Research Centre (CIMO) is a National FCT R&D unit hosted at the Polytechnic Institutes of Bragança (IPB) and Viana do Castelo. CIMO conducts research on Mountain systems following an interdisciplinary strategy that goes from Nature (natural resources, biodiversity, agriculture, forest management) to Products (Food and Bio-based materials). CIMO applies a holistic and interdisciplinary research approach, integrating natural, social, and engineering sciences to promote sustainable development using endogenous resources and the creation of value chains. CIMO aims to promote scientific and technological development and their transformation into global opportunities to socioeconomically reinforce mountain ecosystems, taking advantage of a successful past experience and consolidated national/international leadership. CIMO comprises 300 members, including 103 integrated PhD members, 144 PhD students, and 53 collaborators. CIMO comprises 2 research groups, each exploring 4 key topics. The "Socio-ecological Systems" Group studies how humans manage ecological systems, analysing the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the environment. It is divided into the Topics “Socio-Ecological resilience” and “Sustainable agriculture and innovative agri-food chains”. The "Sustainable Processes and Products" Group is dedicated to innovative methods and products emphasising functionality, efficiency, and sustainability. It is made up of the Topics "Process and Product Engineering" and "Natural and Natural-Based Ingredients". CIMO´s main contributions include actions in plant health, honeybees and hive products, food safety and ingredients, cooperation with industry, and academic and research cooperation. CIMO boasts modern facilities, including labs of Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Ecology, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Soils, Experimental Farms, and pilot-scale labs at Brigantia EcoPark. Over the next five years, CIMO will implement a strategic roadmap to improve its influence and effectiveness, emphasising scientific excellence aligned with EU, national, and regional R&D priorities. This includes attracting talented researchers and contributing to modernising sectors like industry, agriculture, and forestry through sustainable practices. The plan outlines six objectives: strengthening research excellence, securing highly qualified human resources, engaging in advanced training, facilitating knowledge transfer and innovation, enhancing dissemination activities, and influencing public policies. CIMO strives to remain a top mountain research centre globally andlocally, emphasising efficiency, resilience, ecosystem optimisation, valorisation of mountain products, sustainable engineering, and innovation in natural-based products. Dedicated to social responsibility, CIMO fosters economic growth in mountain regions by tackling local challenges, extending its impact nationally and internationally.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Instituto Politécnico de Bragança Centro de Investigação de Montanha (IPB CIMO)
  • Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB)

Other Institutions

  • Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC)

Funding 3.520.723,13 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

3.520.723,13 €