JIC and Chinese Academy of Sciences collaborate on new Centre

UK and China have strengthened scientific partnerships with the establishment of a £12m centre for plant science and microbiology spanning the two countries.

With support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), scientists at the John Innes Centre located on the Norwich Research Park, the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE) and the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) in Beijing, will investigate challenges facing agriculture and human health including increasing crop yield and resistance to disease as well as developing the use of plants and microbes for the production of health-promoting natural products.

Professor Dale Sanders, Director of the John Innes Centre (JIC) in Norwich, said: “We have a long history of joint research projects with Chinese scientists, many of whom are also JIC alumni. This strategic partnership with institutes within the Chinese Academy of Sciences will establish ten new research groups in the new centre in Beijing and Shanghai to work collaboratively with our internationally-leading researchers at JIC, as well as providing reciprocal placements for UK and Chinese staff and students.”

The strategic agreement was signed by Professor Sanders with representatives of the two research institutes within CAS: the Deputy Director of the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE) Dr Chengshu Wang and the Director of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) in Beijing Dr Weicai Yang. CAS President Prof Chunli Bai and BBSRC Executive Prof Jackie Hunter also witnessed the signing.

Dr Chengshu Wang said: “JIC is one of the world’s leading institutions for plant and microbial science. Quite a few of our faculty have received excellent training in JIC and there are on-going projects jointly performed between our colleagues. In line with this strategic partnership, particular interests for the joint centre in Shanghai will be focused on the metabolic, interactive, and biosynthetic mechanisms in plants and microbes.”

Dr Weicai Yang said: “The joint centre will further strength the collaborations between IGDB and JIC scientists in plant sciences and promote internationalisation of both institutes. The hybridization of Chinese and British culture will bring vigour and inspiration to students, and therefore have a broad impact on IGDB.”

Over the next five years BBSRC will contribute £2m; JIC is contributing £1m and IGDB and SIPPE will together contribute in the region of £9m towards the joint collaboration.