Introduction of Hong Kong Office for UN Decade Programmes of Guangzhou Marine Laboratory

In 2018, with the joint support of the Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Commission, the South China Sea Institute of Eco-Environmental Engineering and Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), a cooperation agreement was signed to establish the Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou). The Branch was officially established at HKUST in 2019.

In 2026, the Branch was renamed to the Hong Kong Office for UN Decade Programmes of Guangzhou Marine Laboratory to better support China's marine science innovation strategy and the growing need for international scientific collaboration. Leveraging Hong Kong's unique role as a bridge between Mainland China and the global scientific community, the Office brings together scientists, research institutions, international organizations, and partners worldwide to address global challenges such as climate change, marine ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity conservation.

The Office currently supports two international large-scale science programmes: Global Climate Impacts of Methane Seeps (CliMetS) , Mysteries of Ocean Cold Seep Interfaces (MOCSI) and Digital DeEP-sea Typical Habitats (Digital DEPTH). Through interdisciplinary, cross-regional, and cross-institutional collaboration, the Office promotes scientific discovery, knowledge sharing, and innovation to support sustainable ocean development and ocean governance.

The Office will continue to strengthen international partnerships and advance actions under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), contributing to an open and collaborative global marine science community.