The Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) and Portugal’s University of Coimbra (UC) inaugurated the “Artificial Intelligence Joint Laboratory for Healthy Longevity” in Coimbra on Monday, aiming to strengthen cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) in research and higher education, according to a Wednesday statement by MPU.
The opening ceremony was presided over by MPU Rector Marcus Im Sio Kei and UC Rector Amílcar Falcão, who unveiled the laboratory’s plaque and signed agreements to deepen collaboration in education, research, and academic exchange, the statement said.
Im highlighted the long-standing partnership between the two universities and said that the new lab “marks a key milestone in innovation and talent development for both institutions,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Falcão added that the project will integrate academic and industrial resources to foster a hub for technological and cultural exchange, the statement said.
Building on three decades of cooperation, the laboratory will focus on interdisciplinary AI-driven research in biomedical science, healthcare, and longevity, the statement said, adding that it will explore the use of nutraceuticals* and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) through advanced technology while cultivating international research talent to continue to contribute to Macau’s regional development and global wellness.
MPU and UC also signed agreements to expand their joint efforts in education, staff and student exchanges, as well as research projects in China (Macau and Hengqin) and Portugal aiming to further reinforce Macau’s role as a bridge for innovation between China and PSCs, the statement said.
*A nutraceutical is a food believed to contain health-giving additives and having medicinal benefits. Examples of nutraceutical foods include beets, spinach, and garlic capsules. – DeepSeek
This undated handout photo provided by the Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) on Wednesday shows Rector Marcus Im Sio Kei (left) and University of Coimbra (UC) Rector Amílcar Falcão at the tertiary education instution in the eponymous city in central Portugal.
