CENTRO INTERDISCIPLINARIO DE CIENCIAS MARINAS CICIMAR

What CENTRO INTERDISCIPLINARIO DE CIENCIAS MARINAS CICIMAR does

CICIMAR (Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas) is a public marine sciences research and graduate education center operating as a dependent unit of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), a Mexican federal government educational institution under the Secretaría de Educación Pública. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, the institution maintains roughly 101 staff and operates more than 30 specialized laboratories spanning Oceanology, Fisheries and Marine Biology, Plankton and Marine Ecology, Technology Development, Environmental Biogeochemistry, Environmental Geology, Experimental Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Live Food Production, Macroalgae, Marine Algae Chemistry, and a Pilot Marine Culture Unit (UPIMA) with an associated Algae Processing Pilot Plant. Its core research infrastructure includes the Colección Ictiológica — 114,632 catalogued specimens across 7,891 lots representing approximately 35% of Mexico's known marine fish species and registered with the Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE, clave BCS.PEC.0890300) — and the Dr. Reuben Lasker Library, a specialized marine sciences bibliographic collection established in 1978. The institution also publishes CICIMAR Océanides, a semi-annual peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal active since 1983 and indexed in CONACYT's CRMCyT (Área I, Q4), ASFA, BIOSIS, Periodica, and the Thompson Journal Master List.

CICIMAR's product and service portfolio includes four graduate programs (Specialty in Gestión de Ambientes Costeros, Maestría en Ciencias en Manejo de Recursos Marinos, Doctorado en Ciencias Marinas, and a joint Doctorado en Ciencias en Bioeconomía Pesquera y Acuícola offered with CIBNOR), postdoctoral research stays, the open-access journal, library services under bilateral cooperation agreements, and aquaculture technology transfer via UPIMA — specifically closed-cycle cultivation protocols for huachinango (red snapper), pargo lunarejo, cabrilla arenera, and verdillo, transferred to fishing cooperatives for cage fattening. Research outputs are consumed by Mexican federal agencies (SEMARNAT, CONAPESCA, SAGARPA), international NGOs such as WWF, and academic partner institutions across Mexico, the USA, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, and Colombia.

The institution operates entirely on public funding. There are no commercial revenue streams, pricing models, or fee-based services; budget is sourced from the Mexican federal government through IPN (SEP appropriations) and competitive research grants from CONACYT/CONAHCYT and other federal entities. CICIMAR Digital, an internal administrative platform, supports student pre-registration, faculty management, and academic operations but does not represent a commercial product offering.

Name

CENTRO INTERDISCIPLINARIO DE CIENCIAS MARINAS CICIMAR

Legal name

Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas - Instituto Politécnico Nacional

Website

https://cicimar.ipn.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CICIMAR is a publicly funded marine sciences research and graduate education center of Mexico's Instituto Politécnico Nacional, headquartered in La Paz, Baja California Sur, operating 30+ specialized laboratories, a 114,632-specimen ichthyological collection, and a pilot mariculture unit serving graduate students, federal agencies, and fishing cooperatives since 1976.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

La Paz

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Government Funding (CONACYT / SEP): CICIMAR is a public research center of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), a Mexican federal government educational institution. It operates entirely on public funding from the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) through IPN, with research funding from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) and other federal government sources. No commercial revenue streams are pursued.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CICIMAR is a public marine sciences research and graduate education center of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN). It offers postgraduate academic programs (Specialty, Master's, and Doctoral degrees), conducts interdisciplinary marine research across 30+ specialized laboratories, operates the UPIMA pilot mariculture unit and the Colección Ictiológica ichthyological reference collection, and publishes the peer-reviewed CICIMAR Oceánides scientific journal. All offerings are delivered to enrolled students, affiliated researchers, and government and NGO partners under IPN's public education framework.

Product overview

CICIMAR (Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas) is a research center of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The institution operates as a unified academic research entity offering graduate-level educational programs (Specialty, Master's, and Doctoral degrees) and research services. Its product portfolio includes CICIMAR Oceánides, a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal; the Biblioteca Dr. Reuben Lasker, a specialized marine sciences library; CICIMAR Digital, an internal administrative management system; and research facilities including the Ichthyological Collection (Colección Ictiológica) with over 114,000 specimens, the Pilot Mariculture Unit (UPIMA), and the Fishery Catalog. These offerings collectively serve the research, educational, and administrative needs of the marine sciences community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CICIMAR Oceánides: A peer-reviewed open access scientific journal published semi-annually by IPN since 1983, focusing on marine and hydrobiological research topics including Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, Geology, Physical and Chemical Oceanography, Meteorology, Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Products and services

• CICIMAR Oceánides Peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal published semi-annually since 1983 covering marine and hydrobiological research including Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, Geology, Physical and Chemical Oceanography, Meteorology, Fisheries, and Aquaculture. Indexed in CONACyT CRMCyT Q4, ASFA, BIOSIS (Zoological Record), Periodica, and Thompson Journal Master List. Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. ISSN: 1870-0713, e-ISSN: 2448-9123.
• Biblioteca Dr. Reuben Lasker Specialized library established in 1978 with bibliographic and hemerographic collections focused on Marine Sciences, Aquaculture, Ecology, Statistics, Ichthyology, Oceanography, and Fisheries. Provides interlibrary loan, document delivery, specialized consultation, and bibliographic services to affiliated researchers, students, and partner institutions under bilateral cooperation agreements. Houses approximately 30 species of microalgae for research.
• Colección Ictiológica (Ichthyological Collection) Ichthyological reference collection containing 114,632 cataloged specimens in 7,891 lots, representing approximately 35% of all known marine fish species in Mexico. Includes one phylum, three classes, 36 orders, 132 families, 330 genera, and approximately 600 species. Registered with the Instituto Nacional de Ecología.
• Unidad Piloto de Maricultivos (UPIMA) Pilot mariculture unit developing closed-cycle technologies for cultivating marine fish such as huachinango (red snapper) and pargo lunarejo, from adaptation of wild fish to laboratory conditions through spawning induction, larval development, and juvenile production for transfer to fishing cooperatives and cages for commercial fattening. Also produces ornamental caballito de mar (seahorse) through biotechnology protocols.
• Catálogo Pesquero Online searchable catalog of fishery species and related information managed by CICIMAR, available at azul.cicimar.ipn.mx.
• Especialidad en Gestión de Ambientes Costeros Postgraduate Specialty program in Coastal Zone Management offered through CICIMAR's graduate education portfolio, aimed at professionals seeking specialized training in management of coastal environments.
• Maestría en Ciencias en Manejo de Recursos Marinos Master's degree program in Marine Resource Management offered by CICIMAR, providing advanced training in fisheries, aquaculture, and marine resource management.
• Doctorado en Ciencias Marinas Doctoral degree program in Marine Sciences offered by CICIMAR, providing advanced research training culminating in a doctoral thesis.
• Doctorado en Ciencias en Bioeconomía Pesquera y Acuícola Joint Doctoral program in Fisheries and Aquaculture Bioeconomy offered in collaboration with CIBNOR (Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste).

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CICESE (Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICESE researchers serve on the Editorial Council of CICIMAR Oceánides scientific journal, including Dr. Helmut Maske Rubach, Dr. Armando Trasviña-Castro, Dr. Axayácatl Rocha-Olivares, and Dra. Bertha E. Lavaniegos-Espejo, indicating ongoing editorial and research collaboration in marine sciences.
• CIBNOR (Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIBNOR researchers are members of the CICIMAR Oceánides Editorial Council, including Dra. Tania Zenteno-Savín, Dra. Elisa Serviere-Zaragoza, and Dr. Domenico Voltolina. Additionally, CIBNOR participates in the joint Doctorate in Fisheries and Aquaculture Bioeconomy.
• Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit (UAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Oscar Ubisha Hernández-Almeida from Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit serves on the CICIMAR Oceánides Editorial Council.
• UABC (Universidad Autónoma de Baja California)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Carlos Márquez Becerra from UABC is a member of the CICIMAR Oceánides Editorial Council.
• Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhile not explicitly listed in the journal's editorial council, UABCS is mentioned as the alma mater of student representatives (e.g., Álvaro Jiménez Ramírez), indicating student exchange and collaboration. A student representative has an undergraduate degree from UABCS and is currently pursuing a master's at CICIMAR.
• SEMARNAT (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEMARNAT uses CICIMAR Fish Ecology Laboratory research outputs for environmental compliance, marine resource policy decisions, and sustainable fisheries management, indicating a government research collaboration.
• CONAPESCA (Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONAPESCA collaborates with CICIMAR on fisheries research, stock assessments, and sustainable fishing policy development, providing regulatory oversight and receiving scientific support from CICIMAR.
• SAGARPA (Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGARPA uses CICIMAR research outputs for aquaculture and fisheries development policy, indicating a government-sector research partnership.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF partners with CICIMAR for marine conservation research and sustainable fisheries studies, leveraging CICIMAR's scientific expertise in cetacean ecology, fisheries management, and marine biodiversity assessment.
• Instituciones con convenios bilaterales de cooperación (Institutions with Bilateral Cooperation Agreements)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dr. Reuben Lasker Library provides services to institutions with bilateral cooperation agreements, including interlibrary loans, document delivery, and specialized consultation, extending CICIMAR's research infrastructure reach to partner academic and research institutions.
• DGIZ BIOMARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Volker Koch from DGIZ BIOMAR serves on the CICIMAR Oceánides Editorial Council, indicating an international research collaboration.
• International Academic Institutions (USA, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICIMAR Oceánides has an international Editorial Council including researchers from USA (Scripps Institution, University of Southern Mississippi, The University of Arizona), Spain (Universidad de La Coruña, Universidad de Valencia, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), Chile (Universidad de Concepción), Uruguay (Universidad de la República), and Colombia (Universidad del Valle), reflecting broad international academic collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego): One of the world's oldest and largest oceanographic research and graduate institutions, with editorial representation on CICIMAR Oceánides. Broad incumbent with parallel graduate education, oceanography, and marine biology research missions; comparable in journal publishing and scientific council overlap.
• INAPESCA (Instituto Nacional de Pesca y Acuacultura): Mexican federal fisheries and aquaculture authority that consumes CICIMAR research outputs and collaborates on stock assessments. A broader incumbent in the same fisheries science space — not a research peer, but a key counterpart institution for policy-relevant marine science.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Premier US private oceanographic research and graduate education institution. Broad incumbent with overlapping oceanography, marine biology, fisheries, and aquaculture research — significantly larger in scale and budget, comparable as a marine science graduate education and research model.

Direct peers

• CICESE (Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada): Mexican CONACYT research center and graduate education institution in marine sciences and oceanography based in Ensenada, BC. Closest direct peer to CICIMAR with overlapping IPN lineage, graduate programs, journal publication, and laboratory infrastructure in marine biology, physical oceanography, and aquaculture.
• CIBNOR (Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste): Mexican CONACYT research center in La Paz, BCS focused on biological sciences, aquaculture, and fisheries. Joint partner with CICIMAR on the Doctorate in Fisheries and Aquaculture Bioeconomics; shares editorial council members and overlapping aquaculture and fisheries research agendas.
• El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR): Mexican CONACYT research center with graduate programs across ecology, aquaculture, and sustainable development of southern Mexico's coastal and marine resources. Comparable as a multi-campus public research and graduate education institution with applied marine and fisheries science focus.
• Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD): Mexican CONACYT research center with graduate programs in marine food science, aquaculture biotechnology, and fisheries product development. Directly comparable as a public applied marine sciences research and graduate education institution with similar funding model and government partnerships.
• UNAM Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (ICMyL): Mexico's premier university-based marine sciences research institute offering graduate programs across biological, geological, physical, and chemical oceanography. Comparable in scope (graduate education, journal publication, marine labs) and serves overlapping Mexican marine science policy and academic audiences.

Regional players

• Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS): Public university located in La Paz, BCS with marine biology, fisheries, and oceanography academic programs. Operates in the same city and ecosystem as CICIMAR, sharing student pipelines (UABCS alumni frequently continue at CICIMAR for graduate studies) and overlapping regional research themes.
• Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC): Spain's national oceanographic research institution with fisheries, aquaculture, and marine biology programs and editorial council representation on CICIMAR Oceánides. Regional peer in marine research, fisheries, and oceanography with overlapping journal and scientific networks in the Spanish-speaking marine science community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centro-interdisciplinario-de-ciencias-marinas-cicimar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

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