The signing of a memorandum of cooperation at the Arboretum Mlyňany of the Slovak Academy of Sciences on 16 April 2026 marked a significant milestone for biodiversity research in Slovakia: the establishment of the BIO‑DIVERSE platform. This joint initiative by several institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences aims to connect experts and strengthen coordinated research in this field.
BIO‑DIVERSE is an open network of researchers and institutions responding to the growing challenges of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change. The platform’s ambition is to systematically link the expertise of individual institutes, foster interdisciplinary research, and create space for coordinated scientific activities. It will serve as a central hub for sharing data, infrastructure, and knowledge, as well as for preparing joint projects and research consortia.
Key activities of the platform include joint project development, exchange of information on ongoing research, support for young scientists, and provision of expert opinions for practice and public institutions. The platform also aims to strengthen international cooperation and enhance the competitiveness of Slovak research teams.
Several institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences are involved in BIO‑DIVERSE, including the Plant Biology and Biodiversity Centre, the Institute of Landscape Ecology, the Institute of Forest Ecology, the Institute of Zoology, the Institute of Molecular Biology, the Parasitological Institute, and the Geographical Institute. The signing of the memorandum represents an important step towards deepening interdisciplinary collaboration within the Academy.
Participants at the meeting appreciated the opportunity for personal discussion and agreed that close cooperation is essential for addressing current challenges in biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Text: Jaromír Kučera
Photo: Vieroslava S. Farkašovská
