Created in 1989 the Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (iBET) is a private non profit institution. As a Biotechnology Research Organisation iBET acts as an interface between academic institutions while also creating and organising autonomous knowledge and expertise. iBET brings together, as partners and collaborators, private companies and public institutions, organising competences for product and process development, of which the most relevant is, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, ITQB / Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT/UNL). The Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológia, a postgraduance research institute of Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), started its activity in 1994. The scientific activities of both ITQB and iBET are to provide advanced training in an interdisciplinary environment through high quality research work in Chemistry, Biology and associated areas with applications to Health/ Pharmaceuticals, Agroindustry, Forestry, Agrochemistry and the Environment. Similar although more recent relationships exist with the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, a broader UNL Faculty responsible for teaching and research in science and technology. In November 2000, iBET with the ITQB and the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) signed a contract with the Ministry of Science and Technology to become an Associate Laboratory of this Ministry, devoted to Biologically Active Molecules, Molecular Medicine, Developmental Biology, Biological Risk and Plant Biotechnology. Since 2011, the Laboratório Associado de Oeiras has a new member the Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC) from the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas of Universidade Nova de Lisboa