The Laboratory of Tropical Technologies was formed in 1993 on the basis of the Laboratory of Biodeterioration of IEMEZh AS USSR, which had operated since 1980. For 30 years, the laboratory has directed the activities of the Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center in the "Tropical Materials Science" scientific direction, and cooperates with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and with defense-industry and civilian enterprises. More than 50 state contracts and agreements have been successfully carried out in the field of researching the bioclimatic resistance of structural materials and products of various purposes.
The Laboratory's main scientific directions are: studying the climatic and ecological parameters of tropical ecosystems as aggressive factors in the deterioration of materials and products; assessing the functional properties of structural materials and means and methods of protection against atmospheric and marine corrosion based on the results of field trials in the tropics as well as accelerated laboratory tests; studying the physiological characteristics of destructive microorganisms affecting materials and products; and conducting research on protecting equipment materials and products from biodeterioration, including ship fouling.
The laboratory includes a Climate Testing Center with climate testing stations and mycological sites located in representative climatic zones: temperate (Moscow Region), temperate maritime with mild winters (Utrish, Black Sea); tropical (Nha Trang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City — Vietnam).