The Rector of the University of Minho approves today the Statutes for the creation of the Institute of Research on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics (I3Bs), its first research-based organic unit. The public ceremony takes place at the auditorium of the I3Bs building at 2.45 p.m., at Avepark in Guimarães. The vice-rector for Research and Innovation and director of the 3b’s Group, Rui L. Reis will be present, as well as the UMinho rector Rui Vieira de Castro and the president of the UMinho General Council, Luís Valente de Oliveira.

This is a very important milestoned for the 3B’s Reseach Group, as its structure materialises now into a research organic unit. The creation of this research unit also constitutes a milestone for UMinho, as it becomes the first university in Portugal to have an organic unit of this kind, under the 2007’s Legal Framework for Higher Education Institutions (RJIES). Initially, the I3Bs will include a staff of 193, of which 73 are PhD graduates. During the new unit’s installation stage, the first step will be to elect the Unit’s Council.

The I3Bs meets the requirements defined in the UMinho Statutes, whose last revision was published in the Portuguese Official Gazette, on September 2017. These requirements are: a different identity and nature, and its necessity, considering the university’s mission and goas; scientific consistency concerning its activity; the existence of a quality scientific project aligned with the university’s remaining structure, and with excellence assessment results; an internationally-recognised capacity to train doctorate candidates; the ability to attract quality researchers, particularly on an international level; the participation in international reference networks in its field of knowledge; a size and growth forecast of its human resources, considering national and international references in their fields of knowledge; financial sustainability.