TWAS Executive Director Prof. Marcelo Knobel Visits CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology
On March 31st, 2026, at the invitation of the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS), Professor Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), with Ms. Wang Dongyao, Deputy Director of the International Organizations Division of the Bureau of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), visited IMCAS the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology (CoEBio) and the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEEID), and held discussions on deepening bilateral cooperation.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Zhou Tong, Deputy Director of the Division of Scientific Strategic Planning and Major Programs at IMCAS. Participants included Prof. Yanping Zhang, Director of CoEBio and Ms. Liu He, Program manager of CoEBio; Prof. Junhao Zhu, Executive Director of CEEID and Dr. Liang Wang, Associate Professor of CEEID; as well as Prof. Juncai Ma, Director of the World Data Center for Microorganisms (WDCM).
During the symposium, Ms. Liu He and Prof. Junhao Zhu presented work reports on behalf of the two Centres of Excellence respectively, elaborating on their achievements in talent cultivation, international collaboration, scientific research, and communication with the TWAS Secretariat. Prof. Juncai Ma introduced the international data services and cooperative network of WDCM. Prof. Marcelo Knobel then gave a comprehensive overview of TWAS's organizational mission, development vision, and secretariat operations, with particular emphasis on the Academy's significant contributions to promoting scientific cooperation in the Global South and enhancing scientific capacity in developing countries.
Following the meeting, Professor Knobel toured the CoEBio laboratory, the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC), the Fungarium, as well as the CEEID and the laboratory of Professor George F. Gao. Through the visit, he gained valuable insight into IMCAS’s research capabilities and infrastructure in the areas of microbial resource preservation, frontier biotechnology, and infectious disease research.
This visit marked Professor Knobel’s first trip to CoEBio since assuming the role of TWAS Executive Director. It is of great significance for further deepening the practical cooperation between the Centre and TWAS, and for contributing jointly to the advancement of sustainable biotechnology development worldwide.
【Background Information】
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), formerly known as the Third World Academy of Sciences, was established on November 10, 1983, with its headquarters in Trieste, Italy. As a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit international scientific organization, TWAS was founded on the initiative of Nobel Laureate Professor Abdus Salam, a Pakistani physicist, with the mission of advancing scientific capacity and promoting sustainable development in developing countries. The CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology (CoEBio) and the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEEID) are important platforms established through collaboration between CAS and TWAS, playing active roles in fostering biotechnology talent and strengthening cooperation on infectious disease prevention and control in developing countries.