The Laboratório Associado Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (IBB) is a research and development (R&D) unit, founded in October 2006 aiming to be a strategic infrastructure for the development of the Portuguese R&D and innovation policies in the areas of Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Life, Biomedical and Agricultural Sciences. IBB combines its R&D activities with advanced education, technology transfer, consulting and services, with the aim of fostering the industrial, health, agriculture and environmental sectors.