On 16^th January 2020, the MoU Signing Ceremony between the East China Normal University (ECNU) and the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) project was held at the ECNU North Zhongshan Road campus. IMBeR and ECNU agreed that: ECNU will support the IMBeR IPO-China for a period of five years commencing from the date of this agreement. The ECNU President, Prof. QIAN Xuhong, and Prof. Carol Robinson, Chair of the IMBeR Scientific Steering Committee signed the MoU and jointly unveiled the IMBeR International Project Office plaque in the presence of all participants.

The main tasks of the International Project Office - China (IPO - China) are to:

• promote IMBeR research and support the implementation of the IMBeR SPIS (2016-2025), with a focus on the Asia-Pacific Region, the Middle East, and Africa;
• support and coordinate the activities of the following IMBeR Regional Programmes and Working Groups: Climate Impacts on Oceanic Top Predators (CLIOTOP) Regional Programme, Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (SIBER) Regional Programme, the Continental Margins Working Group (CMWG), and the Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems Working Group (EBUS);
• undertake educational outreach activities of IMBeR-related science; and
• promote capacity building of IMBeR relevant skills.