Brief History

The origins of ITQB NOVA go back to 1986 when the concept of a new research centre was developed and took shape through a process led by Professor António V. Xavier (1943-2006). With the help of a group of political leaders that clearly understood the advantages of such a project to the development of the Portuguese Science and Technology, CTQB (Centro de Tecnologia Química e Biológica) was launched.

Operating since 1989, CTQB started its activities with a few research groups setting their laboratories next to the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), in Oeiras, nearby the new building future location.

Headed by Professor António V. Xavier since its foundation until 1999, this research centre became Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica in 1993 and was integrated in Universidade Nova de Lisboa in the same year.

In 1996, both ITQB NOVA and its associate institution IBET (Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica) – a private, not-for-profit biotechnology institution - started to operate in the present site, in the campus of Estação Agronómica Nacional, in Oeiras. The new building, designed by the architect Gonçalo Byrne and awarded the Prémio Municipal de Arquitectura da Câmara Municipal de Oeiras in the same year, hosts most of the research groups and all administrative and support services; a few groups have remained in the previous location at IGC or otherwise use laboratory space from the Estação Agronómica.

ITQB NOVA was one of the first research institutions to be awarded the status of Laboratório Associado (LA) by the Minister of Science and Technology, in 2001.  Under the LA programme the Institute established a partnership with IGC and IBET to maximize its research and development potential.

In 2021, a renewed Laboratório Associado was approved, coordinated by ITQB NOVA in partnership with iBET, IGC, NOVA Medical School and IPOLisboa. The Life Sciences for a Healthy and Sustainable Future - LS4Future is the biggest Associated Laboratory in Life Sciences, and aims to gather critical mass from these institutions to work for Health and the Environment.