Create innovative and advanced solutions that meet a sustainable, circular and neutral economy, joining the best of biotechnology and bioengineering to microelectromechanical systems. This is the mission of LABBELS, one of the most recent associated laboratories in the country, whose Objectives and Strategic Plan were disclosed last June 9 in the Amphitheater of Engineering of UMinho, in the Campus of Gualtar, Braga.

This Associated Laboratory, based at the University of Minho, joins two important research units of this institution and that also have a strong impact on science in Portugal: the Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB) and the Center for Microelectromechanical Systems (CMEMS).

The associated laboratories are entities whose status is granted for a period of up to 10 years and whose objectives are to ensure the response of public policies to scientific, health, social, environmental and economic challenges, to strengthen research activities and the promotion of scientific or technical careers for doctorate holders, and to increase the international projection of the science and technology activities carried out in Portugal.

It is in this context that LABBELS appears, assuming as goals to be a national leader in research and innovation in interface areas between Biotechnology and Microelectromechanical systems. It links 4 well established thematic lines in the Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB) – Industrial Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Health Biotechnology and Food Biotechnology, with the expertise in computational modeling, micro/nano fabrication, integration and testing of intelligent devices, of the Research Unit in Microelectromechanical Systems (CMEMS).

Learn more about this new associated laboratory here.