Mountain Research Center (CIMO)

CIMO - Mountain Research Center is a multidisciplinary research unit focused on mediterranean mountain issues based at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal, and with a pole at the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. CIMO is part of the national research network coordinated by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT).

The Centre follows an interdisciplinary approach based on an applied research strategy covering issues and expertise that goes from Nature (raw materials, natural resources, biodiversity, agriculture and forest management) to Products (Food or Bio-based materials).

CIMO aims to promote research in mediterranean mountain areas according to the best international practices, promoting scientific observation and experimental development for the conservation, exploitation and scientific valorisation of biodiversity, natural resources, farming and forest systems, and mountain products; to develop sustainable land use systems, improving endogenous research competencies; and linking research and stakeholders promoting sustainable development in mountain areas. CIMO is socially committed at enhancing opportunities and income for and in mountain areas.

The Centre has currently 77 PhD integrated members specialists in a wide range of fields in natural, social and engineering sciences that focus its research on sustainable development promotion through the use of endogenous resources and creation of value chains. This diversity of backgrounds and expertise allows the Centre to be remarkably multidisciplinary which suits CIMO’s main subject of study: complex physical-biological-human mountain systems.

CIMO is organized in two research groups:

• Socio Ecological Systems
• Sustainable Processes and Products