10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes The Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB) is a research unit of the University of Minho. It is associated with the Department of Biological Engineering, with whom it shares resources and namely human resources. In addition to faculty belonging to the Department, CEB also integrates faculty from other Departments, researchers without a permanent employment contract with the UMinho as well as researchers connected to other National or International Institutions. Since 2002, CEB was awarded by FCT with the grade of Excellent. CEB is a research unit formed by 126 integrated researchers holding a PhD, 133 integrated researchers who do not hold a PhD degree, from which 94 are PhD students, and 38 collaborator researchers. CEB research activities are developed within 4 main thematic research lines in Biotechnology & Bioengineering: Industrial, Food, Environmental, and Health. The excellence of the developed research at CEB, the competences in advanced training, the competitiveness in the capture of external funding, and the interaction with the stakeholders is confirmed by the following facts for the 2013 and 2017 period: 1250 peer-reviewed papers were published in journals, 62% of them in Scopus “Q1 journals"; 177 book chapters have been published, and 35 books were edited by members of CEB; 89 PhD thesis under the supervision of CEB integrated members were concluded; the average income volume of awarded budget derived from research awards (including industry research income) from external funding bodies was around 5 M€/year; more than 15 spin-off and start-up companies were launched or continued their activities, and 15 patents filled. These scientific outputs justify the ambition of CEB to be a reference research unit in Biotechnology & Bioengineering in Portugal and one of the best in Europe. To fulfil this ambition, 2 main objectives are defined: - Improve the Excellence of its research, in line with the strategy defined by the EU HORIZON 2020 program, and the research and innovation strategies for smart specialization (RIS3) defined at the Portugal North region. CEB wants to contribute decisively for the three priorities defined in HORIZON 2020 - excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenges. - To be a major player in the development and translation of knowledge into the business sector, contributing for advances in Biotechnology Industry, including Food, Energy, Environment and Health sectors, and to the social and economic development of the North of Portugal. CEB reached a consolidated maturity, critical mass and expertise. Having experienced a remarkable and continuous growth ever since its inception in 1994, the main aspirations of CEB are now to stabilize its structure of human resources, to settle appropriate infrastructures providing a great environment for the development of creative and disruptive work, privileging science quality (rather than quantity), and the economic impact of the translational activities. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation CEB is recognizably a major player in the Portuguese research scene on Biotechnology and Bioengineering, having reached recognition at international level in several domains. The scientific outcomes achieved may be classified as remarkable, specially taking in account the resources committed and working conditions, more than compensated by the CEB’s highly qualified, motivated and enthusiastic young scientists. With a motto “Linking life and technology to shape the future”, CEB's activities are developed in four thematic lines - Industrial, Food, Environmental, and Health Biotechnology and Bioengineering - in line with the strategy defined by the EU HORIZON 2020 program and the research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation (RIS3) defined at the Portugal North region. These areas are expected to have a significant contribution to the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The Committee of the Regions has underlined the important role of bio-based products and the establishment of a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy in Europe. CEB wants to contribute decisively for the three priorities defined in HORIZON 2020 - excellent science, industrial leadership, and societal challenges, targeting the translation into the market, but not disregarding a continuous focus on disruptive and high quality research. A plan for the long run affirmation of CEB and the fulfilment of its ambition – to be a reference research Centre in Biotechnology and Bioengineering in Portugal and one of the best in Europe – must tackle the following critical aspects: i) New building: due to the significant growth in the number of researchers, CEB is currently spread in different buildings, overcrowded and precarious in some cases. A new building is thus mandatory to guarantee a pleasant and safe environment to create top quality science. The University of Minho Rectory is well aware of this fully justified ambition and has demonstrated its willingness to contribute to this goal. ii) Equipment: access to top quality infrastructures and analytical equipment. This will be achieved through the renovation and acquisition of new high quality equipment, but also through the participation in National and International Infrastructure Platforms, in order to get access to state of the art technology and skilled technical support. iii) Human resources: stabilization of the technical staff with post-graduate education that guarantee the maintenance of equipment and provide support to laboratory activities, creation of opportunities for stable position for young researchers, a process already ongoing under the FCT´s Scientific Jobs program. CEB must secure excellent researchers and create new highly attractive research positions in order to hire top-level scientists that will boost CEB competences in new and relevant areas of expertise. iv) Research strategy: over the years, CEB has been developing activity in an always growing and rather wide range of topics. This strategy has been dictated by the need to take advantage of funding opportunities. Although excellent level of publications in highly ranked journals has been reached, this strategy implies some lack of focus and impact, as pointed out by the External Advisory Board in its recent assessment of CEB. Thus, the levels of internal networking will be stimulated, aiming the continuous commitment of researchers in long run projects with high International impact. These projects will be identified through regular (yearly) internal events promoting the discussion and brainstorming, devising scientific long run goals. v) High impact projects: CEB will encourage the application of CEB's top level researchers to the funding schemes of the European Research Council, as well as the active engagement to research programs namely in the framework of Horizon 2020. vi) Societal impact: CEB has a good record of translational activities, as it is well evident in the number of spinoffs created, as well as the projects in collaboration with the industry. This process must be reinforced through the proactive approach to industries and companies and establishment of joint projects. The translational culture is well established within CEB and will be further stimulated by providing support to the spinoffs. Communication with the stakeholders and the public through the dissemination/communication infrastructure. This way, CEB aims at contributing decisively for the scientific, industrial, economic and social development, by contributing for advances in Biotechnology Industry, including Food, Energy, Environment and Health sectors, and to the social and economic development of the North of Portugal. Following the advice of the External Advisory Committee, a few topics will draw common efforts from several groups in an integrated approach, as for example: i) metagenomics pipeline to analyse data sets searching for novel enzymes mined from harsh engineered and natural environments; ii) safety and sustainability in healthy food processing; iii) innovative antimicrobial therapies to tackle infectious biofilms; iv) integrated and intensified biotechnological processes addressing the challenges of the biorefineries and circular bioeconomy, e.g. applied for the production of bacterial cellulose. Having experienced a remarkable and continuous growth ever since its creation in 1994, the main ambition of CEB are now to stabilize its structure of human resources, to settle appropriate (high quality) infrastructures providing a great environment for the development of creative and disruptive work, privileging science quality (rather than quantity) and the economic impact of the translational activities. This is the key for the success of CEB activities. O Centro de Engenharia Biológica é uma unidade de investigação da Universidade do Minho. Está associado ao Departamento de Engenharia Biológica, com quem compartilha recursos, nomeadamente, recursos humanos. Além dos professores pertencentes ao DEB, o CEB também integra professores de outros departamentos, investigadores sem contrato de trabalho permanente com a UMinho, bem como professores/investigadores ligados a outras instituições nacionais ou internacionais. Desde 2002, o CEB tem sido classificado pela FCT como Excelente. O CEB é uma unidade formada por 126 investigadores integrados doutorados, 133 não doutorados, dos quais 94 são estudantes de doutoramento e 38 colaboradores. As atividades de investigação do CEB são desenvolvidas em 4 linhas temáticas de Biotecnologia e Bioengenharia: Industrial, Alimentar, Ambiental e Saúde. A excelência da investigação desenvolvida no CEB, as competências em formação avançada, a competitividade na captação de financiamento externo e a interação com os diversos parceiros é confirmada pelos seguintes indicadores alcançados no período 2013-2017: 1250 artigos com revisão por pares publicados em revistas, 62% deles em revistas “Scopus Q1"; 177 capítulos de livros; edição de 35 livros; conclusão de 89 teses de doutoramento; o volume médio de financiamento de projetos de investigação (incluindo receitas de investigação com a indústria) por agências de financiamento externas foi de cerca de 5 M€/ano; mais de 15 empresas de spin-off e start-up foram lançadas ou continuaram as suas atividades e 15 patentes foram submetidas. Estes resultados justificam a ambição do CEB em constituir-se uma unidade de investigação de referência em Biotecnologia e Bioengenharia em Portugal e uma das melhores da Europa. Para cumprir essa ambição, são definidos dois objetivos principais: - Melhorar a excelência da investigação, em conformidade com a estratégia definida pelo programa EU HORIZON 2020 e as estratégias de investigação e inovação para a especialização inteligente (RIS3) definidas na região de Portugal Norte. O CEB quer contribuir de forma decisiva para as três prioridades definidas no HORIZON 2020 - excelente científica, liderança industrial e desafios societais. - Promover a translação de conhecimento para o setor empresarial, contribuindo para os avanços na indústria de biotecnologia, incluindo os setores de alimentos, energia, meio ambiente e saúde, e para o desenvolvimento social e económico do Norte de Portugal. O CEB atingiu uma maturidade consolidada, massa crítica e pericialidade. Tendo experimentado um crescimento notável e contínuo desde a sua criação em 1994, as principais aspirações do CEB passam agora por estabilizar a sua estrutura de recursos humanos, estabelecer estruturas físicas adequadas que proporcionem um excelente ambiente para o desenvolvimento de trabalho criativo e disruptivo, privilegiando a qualidade da ciência (em vez de quantidade), e o impacto económico das atividades translacionais.