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The Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) was established in 1967 by decree of the Holy See. The UCP enjoys a large degree of autonomy in the creation and running of new campuses, facilities and courses. Taking advantage of the fact, it has been a pioneer in some aspects of university development in Portugal, e.g. business administration and management, food engineering, multimedia and digital arts. The UCP is comprised of 15 Faculties, Schools and Institutes that are the fundamental learning and researching units, and 4 Departments. It is a nationwide university located in four regional centres (Braga, Porto, Beiras and Lisbon) as well as in Macao (China), where it runs a University Institute.

The proposed project will be implemented by the The CBQF (Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry). The CBQF is a Research Centre formed in 1992 within the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Catholic University of Portugal (ESB). Since 2004 the CBQF has enjoyed the status of Associate Laboratory, one of only 26 in Portugal. The Centre occupies a single-site in the University Campus of Asprela in Porto, Northern Portugal and has a scientific team of around 100 researchers. Its major disciplinary competences are based around biosciences, analytical chemistry and engineering which it applies to thematic challenges focused on two main areas: The Health And Well Being Of The Citizen - particularly focused on the safety of the food chain and The Competitiveness Of The Agricultural And Food Systems. CBQF approaches these challenges through a structure made up of 2 thematic research lines, environment and food, each composed of 2 research groups. The Research Line – “Food: Safer, healthier, more nutritious and more competitive food” is currently made up of 2 Research Groups, Food Safety and Food Quality and Nutrition.