The CNB was created in 1992 as an institute of the CSIC, with a mandate to lead research in emerging areas of biotechnology. Over its 25 years of existence, the centre's objective has evolved to development of research that addresses four of the major challenges to today's society:
infectious diseases, inflammatory processes and cancer, sustainable food production, and environmental pollution.
With more than 600 workers and 70 research groups, the CNB is one of the largest centres in the CSIC and in Spain. The multidisciplinary composition of its laboratories –in which experts work together in molecular and cell biology, image analysis, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, genomics and proteomics— enhances the quality of their research and enables the development of new technologies for health, the environment and agriculture.
A fluid relationship with pacesetters in the biotechnology industry, promoted by the centre's innovation office, together with a constant endeavour to maintain open channels of communication with society, helps to reflect the science implemented in the CNB laboratories to the business sector and society.
