BIOPOLIS project addresses the upgrade of CIBIO to a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for R&D&I, through a teaming with the University of Montpellier (France), and with Porto Business School (PBS; Portugal). The project envisions to establish BIOPOLIS as one of the best international CoE in Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Research and AgroBiodiversity, with the capacity for spreading excellence towards innovation in the areas of Environment, Biodiversity and Agriculture, and thus contributing to socioeconomic development. The CoE will advance biological understanding from genes to ecosystems, and to use this knowledge to address pressing societal challenges through the development of world-leading research, the establishment of long-term strategic partnerships, the engagement of stakeholders, and the transfer and exploitation of research outputs. This will be achieved by attracting talented researchers, providing excellent conditions for research, training, internationalisation and networking, aligning research with societal challenges and smart specialisation strategies, engaging in advanced training programmes, developing communication, dissemination and exploitation activities, and setting a strong affiliates programme to promote the translation of research and innovation into applications and business opportunities.