NORWICH, UK – June 2–4, 2026 – The China–UK Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS) held its 2026 annual conference in Norwich. On June 4, the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences and the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) signed a new five-year agreement with the John Innes Centre (JIC) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). TSL joins as the fourth partner, marking a new phase of broader, deeper collaboration for CEPAMS.

CEPAMS was the first established international joint research centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, focused on crop improvement and natural products. Since its founding in 2014, it has become a flagship platform for UK–China collaboration in agricultural and life sciences. The centre continues to advance basic research in plants and microbes, support scientist exchanges, and train early-career researchers.

Over 220 participants from ten research institutes attended the 2026 conference, hosted by the John Innes Centre. Keynote speakers included Professors Sanwen Huang (CAAS), Xuemei Chen (Peking University), and Lijia Qu (Peking University). CEPAMS researchers such as Professor Zuhua He, Jiawei Wang, Chengshu Wang, Xiufang Xin, Li Wan, Dapeng Li, and Ji Zhou, along with 22 other speakers from China and the UK, gave oral presentations. More than 40 posters were presented, alongside over 20 short flash talks.

The new agreement strengthens the long-term foundation of CEPAMS. The four partners will integrate research resources, address challenges such as food security and climate change, and explore the intersection of AI and life sciences. The aim is to deepen joint research, nurture talent, and contribute to global progress in plant and microbial science.