China-Brazil Science and Technology Innovation Centre Launched in Rio, Ushering in New Era of Energy Cooperation

The China-Brazil Science and Technology Innovation Centre has been officially registered and established in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has now commenced substantive operations. Its launch signals a new stage in China–Brazil collaboration in science, technology and energy, advancing the partnership toward a more systematic and integrated framework.

Jointly founded through a quadripartite partnership between the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Petrobras, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Centre positions itself as a 'technology innovation driver for energy cooperation'. It will dedicate efforts to pioneering research and development in the energy sector, as well as the commercialisation of technological achievements.

Brazil hosts the world's largest deepwater pre-salt oil fields and holds significant potential in renewable energy — including wind and solar — while China brings strengths in energy development technologies and green equipment manufacturing. CNOOC has already applied deepwater development technologies in the Buzios Phase V project, becoming the first foreign oil company in Brazil to independently sell natural gas without shareholder involvement and establishing itself among the country's major natural gas suppliers.

Going forward, the Innovation Centre will integrate the core strengths of all four partnering institutions. It will leverage the deepwater development expertise of CNOOC and Petrobras — particularly in ultra-deepwater fields such as Buzios and Mero — while combining the scientific and technological innovation capabilities of China University of Petroleum (Beijing) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Together, they aim to build a deeply integrated 'industry–academia–research–application' collaborative ecosystem, strengthening channels for technical exchanges and shared成果. This will help address bottlenecks in areas such as green deep-sea oil and gas development and the application of photovoltaic and wind power technologies.

Yu Jin, Deputy General Manager of CNOOC, noted that amid accelerating global energy transition, the Centre is designed not only to deepen comprehensive Sino-Brazilian energy cooperation but also to promote green and low-carbon development. Its research priorities include identifying key technological pathways for the clean development of traditional energy and the efficient utilisation of renewable energy.

In parallel, the Second China-Brazil Science and Technology Innovation Forum was held in Rio de Janeiro. This year's edition focused on central themes in energy sector development and technological industrial innovation, with the objective of strengthening practical cooperation and advancing shared progress between the two countries. The forum featured multiple sub-forums addressing digital applications, offshore decarbonisation, waste disposal and reuse, cost reduction technologies, renewable energy, and talent development. Government representatives, energy enterprises, universities and research institutions from both nations participated in extensive and in-depth exchanges, effectively reinforcing bilateral collaboration in scientific and technological innovation and injecting sustained technological momentum into the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.