The history of BioData.pt capitalizes on a 10-year path to bring excellence in computing, bioinformatics and data management to life and health sciences research in Portuguese public and private organizations. Nevertheless, it was only in 2017 that we received structural funding to professionally establish what is now the Portuguese Infrastructure of Biological Data - BioData.pt. 

After a thorough assessment conducted by experts from the Foundation for Science and Technology, in early 2020, BioData.pt was recommended to become a legal entity. Following on that endeavor, we are proud to announce that since May 24th we are a non-for-profit organization. 

Twelve Portuguese research organizations signed the deed that officializes this historical transition. They are: Centro de Biotecnologia Agrícola e Agro-Alimentar do Alentejo (CEBAL), Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL),  Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (iBET), Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores: Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa (INESC-ID), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência of Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (IGC-FCG), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Aveiro (UAveiro), Universidade de Coimbra (UCoimbra), Universidade do Minho (UMinho), and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA).

This constitutes a big move in the history of research infrastructures in Portugal and we count on the national scientific community to continue with us in this journey and make it a great success for all. Congratulations to BioData.pt! Congratulations Portuguese Science!