The work developed by the University of Minho is mainly defined by the production of scientific knowledge, which is also understood as a means of enhancing its educational provision as well as interaction with society.
UMinho presents itself as a research university and that characterisation has been acknowledged in numerous assessments carried out by international agencies.
At the University, research is organised in research centres, which are sub-units of the various teaching and research units.
At present, the University has 32 research centres funded by FCT, three of which are integrated into Associated State Laboratories, and it also hosts the European Institute of Excellence in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, the only Institute of this kind to have a base in Portugal.