On November 20, 2024, President Xi Jinping conducted a state visit to Brazil. During the visit, 38 cooperation agreements were signed. Among them, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Joint Establishment of the China-Brazil Science and Technology Innovation Center—involving China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUP), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Petrobras, and The Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ)—was included.

To further promote investment, research and development, and innovation collaboration between China and Brazil in the fields of marine science and energy, as well as to enhance exchanges in education, talent cultivation, and science and technology, CUP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CNOOC, Petrobras, and COPPE/UFRJ on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. The agreement aims to jointly establish the China-Brazil Science and Technology Innovation Center.

The center will focus on areas such as marine resource development, green and low-carbon technologies, bioenergy utilization, and the cultivation of international talent. It seeks to build an innovation ecosystem for marine science and technology, leveraging the technological advantages of both countries in the marine field. This collaboration aims to develop critical technologies and core equipment, continuously advancing the integration of marine scientific development and the industrial equipment supply chain.

The joint establishment of the China-Brazil Science and Technology Innovation Center is a significant step in CUP’s strategy of openness and integration. It also provides an important platform for the university’s efforts in scientific innovation and the cultivation of international talent.