International Partnership Marks Scientist Exchange and Strengthens Strategic Cooperation in Science and Technology
On June 25, Brazil and China inaugurated the China-Brazil Joint Laboratory for Synchrotron Science and Technology (CBJSync), an international shared laboratory between the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in Campinas (São Paulo), and the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing. Activities at the new lab have already begun, marking a milestone for the start of in-person joint work.
The laboratory represents a new chapter in the scientific collaboration between the two countries, fostering researcher exchanges and cutting-edge studies in the field of synchrotron light — an essential technology for advanced research in health, energy, the environment, and new materials.
Authorities and members of IHEP and CNPEM during the inauguration ceremony on June 25, 2025, in Campinas, São Paulo. Image: CNPEM.
The inauguration ceremony took place at CNPEM’s campus and was attended by key authorities including Antônio José Roque da Silva, Director General of CNPEM; Andrea Brito Latgé, Secretary for Strategic Policies and Programs of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI); Wu Zhaohui, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); and Dong Yuhui, Deputy Director of the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP). A commemorative plaque for CBJSync was unveiled, followed by the laboratory’s first official working meeting.
The CNPEM–IHEP partnership, formalized in 2023, is initially set for five years and includes researcher exchanges between Brazilian scientists at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) — operator of Sirius, one of the world’s most advanced synchrotron light sources — and Chinese scientists at the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), currently under construction in China.
“The creation of CBJSync marks a new chapter in scientific collaboration between Brazil and China. We are combining well-established expertise in synchrotron light to jointly address complex scientific challenges. This lab offers a tangible opportunity to generate knowledge, train talent, and drive innovative solutions with global impact,” emphasized Director José Roque.
During the ceremony, CAS Vice President Wu Zhaohui highlighted the lab’s role in advancing scientific cooperation: “The inauguration of CBJSync marks a new phase of collaboration between CNPEM and IHEP, the result of joint efforts by Chinese and Brazilian scientists.” He noted that the facility would serve as a key platform for future partnerships: “By leveraging complementary technological strengths, researchers will be able to jointly advance the development of fourth-generation light source technologies and increase the efficiency of open sharing of large-scale research infrastructures, further benefiting the global scientific community.”
The researchers toured Sirius and took part in diverse scientific sessions, including experiments in cultural heritage, simulations of extreme temperature and pressure conditions, and discussions on undulator technologies and cryogenic systems. The exchange of experiences reinforced the collaborative spirit of the initiative.
For Andrea Brito Latgé, from MCTI, the partnership is an example of the potential of South-South cooperation. “This collaboration enables the exchange of experiences between laboratories with complementary expertise. There is a mutual desire to strengthen the exchange of young researchers, which is crucial for the advancement of science, technology, and innovation in our countries.”
Professor Glaucius Oliva, of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), also highlighted CBJSync as a significant model of international collaboration and an inspiring example of the partnership between Brazil and China — one that should serve as a reference for future joint projects between the two countries.
CBJSync also integrates with multilateral initiatives under the BRICS framework, contributing to the strengthening of international research networks focused on large scientific infrastructures and reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to advancing knowledge.
Photo: CNPEM
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
