Marine Research Centre

The Marine Research Centre (CIM) of the University of Vigo is a CIGUS Centre of Excellence in Galicia and a leading interdisciplinary hub for aquatic and marine sciences, bringing together more than 230 researchers. Its expertise spans marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, pollution and ecotoxicology, biological oceanography, environmental genomics, climate change, socio-ecological systems, ocean observation, modelling and artificial intelligence. CIM combines this scientific capacity with advanced marine infrastructures supporting observation, experimentation and validation from organism to ecosystem scale.

Its main marine research station, the Toralla Marine Science Station (ECIMAT), is integrated into EMBRC-ERIC and provides marine laboratories, biological resources and culture facilities, direct access to Atlantic coastal ecosystems, oceanographic sampling, research vessels and advanced pelagic and benthic mesocosms where environmental variables can be manipulated under realistic conditions. ECIMAT is complemented by an instrumented experimental raft in the Ría de Aldán for real-time monitoring and in-situ studies, and by a plug-in hybrid oceanographic vessel for coastal and shelf observation and sampling.

For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-01, Assessing direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity decline of invertebrates, the Coastal Ecology group can contribute with expertise in marine invertebrate ecology, benthic communities, ecotoxicology, biodiversity responses to environmental stressors and contaminants, and multistressor and mesocosm experiments. Together with ECIMAT, these capabilities can support mechanistic and field-based studies on molluscs, crustaceans and other marine invertebrates.

For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02-05, Cost-effective biodiversity monitoring for EU policies, CIM combines expertise in coastal biodiversity and habitat monitoring with the Biological Oceanography group (OB), which works on plankton diversity, community dynamics and long-term ecological responses, and comparative genomics and bioinformatics expertise. These capacities can support the development and validation of scalable monitoring approaches based on eDNA/metabarcoding, plankton and benthic observations, automated or sensor-supported monitoring and complementary ecological indicators in coastal waters.

For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-04-01, A stronger Global Ocean Observing System to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy, climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, CIM can contribute as an Atlantic coastal observation, testing and validation node. Relevant capabilities include biological and physical oceanography, sensors, real-time monitoring, marine biodiversity observation, modelling, interoperable data workflows, ECIMAT, the experimental raft and the CIM-UVIGO oceanographic vessel.

For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-03-01, Advancing interdisciplinary, data-driven research at the biodiversity-health interface under a One Health approach, CIM can contribute marine case studies linking ecosystem condition, biodiversity and health-related risks. OB provides expertise in phytoplankton dynamics and harmful algal blooms, while EcoCost-EZ1, contributes expertise in marine pollution, contaminants, ecotoxicology and biological responses. These capabilities are relevant to One Health approaches addressing HABs, contaminants, ecosystem health, aquaculture and environmental change.

For HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01-03, Systemic approaches to accelerate transformative change for biodiversity, CIM can contribute through interdisciplinary research on marine socio-ecological systems, ecosystem services, governance, climate adaptation and biodiversity management. The Future Oceans Lab integrates natural and social sciences to assess risks, vulnerabilities, adaptation pathways, stakeholder responses and the socio-economic dimensions of marine ecosystem change.

Overall, CIM can participate in HORIZON-NATURE consortia as both a scientific partner and a provider of integrated Atlantic marine case studies, experimental platforms and observation capacity. Its combination of interdisciplinary expertise, EMBRC-linked infrastructure, mesocosms, in-situ monitoring, coastal access, oceanographic capabilities and data-oriented approaches provides a strong basis for projects connecting biodiversity knowledge with monitoring, ecosystem resilience, One Health, transformative change and evidence-based management.