The Centre of Excellence for Plant-Environment Interactions (CEPEI) is an international research centre created to maximize the synergies between the Plant Biotechnology and Genomics Centre (CBGP, UPM-INIA) of Madrid (Spain), the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Beijing (IGDB) (China) and the Shanghai Centre of Excellence for Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS) (China), two Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) centres.

The CBGP is strengthening its international presence by signing a memorandum of understanding with two leading CAS research institutes: the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) in Beijing and the Centre of Excellence for Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS) in Shanghai. This strategic agreement aims to promote the Centre of Excellence for Plant-Environment Interactions (CEPEI), of which the CBGP, the IGDB and the PSC (now part of the CEMPS) are already members. CEPEI was established by these three institutes in 2019 and is currently conducting six collaborative research projects involving research groups from CBGP and IGDB/CEMPS. These projects aim to generate cutting-edge knowledge and tools that will enable more sustainable agricultural practices. CEPEI's establishment and the funding of these projects are part of CBGP's international collaboration strategy and financed by Severo Ochoa excellence grants (SEV2016-0672 and CEX2020-000999-S) from the Spanish State Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI).

In this context, Eloísa del Pino, the president of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and Jianguo Hou, the president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes the basis for extensive and strategic collaboration between the two institutions. A tripartite memorandum has also been signed by the CSIC, the CAS, and the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) to promote the development of the Centre of Excellence for Plant-Environment Interactions. Priority research areas will include interactions between plants and their environment, the genetic improvement of crops, agricultural sustainability, and adaptation to climate change.

Following the signing of the agreement, Mr Hou accompanied by CAS and CSIC delegations visited the CBGP to learn more about the joint projects being carried out within the CEPEI framework and to see the CBGP's state-of-the-art facilities.  During the visit, the CAS delegation met the CEPEI initiative's doctoral students, as well as Chinese researchers currently working at the CBGP.

This agreement consolidates the CBGP's position as a leading international centre for biotechnology and plant genomics, paves the way for the implementation of its new strategic plan for international cooperation in integrative biology (CSP-INT, 2026–2029), and strengthens the CBGP's commitment to excellence in international scientific cooperation to address the challenges of food security and agricultural sustainability.