EMBRC-ES is the Spanish node of the European Marine Biological Research Centre (EMBRC), a research infrastructure that provides marine resources and services for research communities. EMBRC-ES consists of three operators bringing together three marine research centers offering marine biology services:
- Toralla Marine Science Station (ECIMAT) - Marine Research Centre (CIM-UVIGO).
- Plentzia Marine Station (PiE-UPV/EHU)
- Spanish Bank of Algae (BEA/ULPGC)
EMBRC Spain was created after the public signing, in 2016, of a collaboration agreement between the chancellors of the University of Vigo and the University of the Basque Country, to implement EMBRC. In 2017, an agreement was signed between both universities and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness to constitute EMBRC-ES as a non-legal entity and incorporating Spain as a funding country of EMBRC-ERIC. In 2021, the Spanish Bank of Algae of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, joined EMBRC-ES, bringing the third operator to the Spanish node of EMBRC.
The mission of EMBRC-ES is aligned with the main aim of EMBRC. Our mission is to:
- Support and facilitate marine biological research and innovation.
- Promote the technological development.
- Promote and represent marine biological research community.
- Provide access to ecosystems, research facilities and platforms and develop tools and techniques.
- Preserve the biodiversity by promoting compliance with ABS regulations.
Belonging to EMBRC has enabled the EMBRC-ES to participate in 7 research projects and to be involved in more than 35 "transnational access projects" offering users 53 different services.