An application to the European Union for the construction of a marine research laboratory in the Algarve is going to be made on December 3rd, informed the director.

Adelino Canário believes the creation of a European network of laboratories focusing on the research of marine resources is essential, as it is in the sea where the richest and most diverse sources of organisms exist, with great potential for biomedical and biotechnological research, as well as the ability to monitor the health of the planet.

The Sea Sciences Department of the Universidade do Algarve has recently presented the European Centre for Biological Marine Resources, a project that will be supported by the European Union in the initial stages and in the construction of the laboratories. Italy, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Portugal are the first countries to be part of the European Centre for Biological Marine Resources and Adelino Canário thinks a new laboratory in the Algarve will be a major contributor to attract young students, as well as being beneficial to both the university and the region.

The director also showed his disappointment of the fact that the Algarve only represents 7% of the country’s GDP and that its investments in science are poor. “We have an enormous deficit of investment in science in the Algarve. We are very behind, but now we have an opportunity” said the researcher, who believes that science can put the Algarve in the forefront for international scientists.