The i3S funding structure is essentially based on 2 main components:

1) Institutional / Core Funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through pluriannual funding to the Research Unit (UID) and the Associated Laboratory (LA);

2) Competitive R&D Projects funded by several national and international entities.

Our commitment is to continually secure a diversified portfolio that ensures the i3S financial sustainability to fullfill our mission.

Operating since 2015, i3S is a multidisciplinary Research Unit funded by FCT, which was classified as “Excellent” in the latest external evaluation process. 

Our research is organized into three Scientific Programs addressing current pressing societal and health challenges: cancer, infectious diseases, neurologic disorders, and regenerative medicine. Our transdisciplinary approach spans fundamental questions regarding living systems, mechanisms underlying disease, and the development of novel diagnostic and innovative therapeutic strategies. The UID i3S is a very dynamic research hub hosting ca. 950 researchers in its 64 research groups who produce ca. 600 publications/year. It also has 14 scientific platforms that give access to advanced equipment in areas such as genomics, biomolecular analysis, cell analysis, imaging, and animal experimentation; 3 clinical platforms offering diagnostic services to the community in the areas of cancer, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases; as well as a set of transversal units dedicated to the financial, management, IT and communication aspects that ensure the functioning of the infrastructure and the successful implementation of ongoing projects. 

R&D Units 
Title: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Reference: UID/04293/2025
Funding Entity: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Proponent: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - Associação
i3S Funding: 12.709.978,96 €
Execution Period: 2025-01-01 to 2029-12-31
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/04293/2025 

PRR 
Title: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Reference: UID/PRR/04293/2025
Funding Entity: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Proponent: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - Associação
i3S Funding: 1.706.751,85 €
Execution Period: 2025-01-01 to 2026-06-30
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/PRR/04293/2025

i3S is an Associate Laboratory funded by FCT since 2021, classified as “Excellent” in the latest external evaluation process.

The LA i3S results from the merger of two previous ALs, IBMC-INEB and Ipatimup, and involves a key collaboration with the UPorto and the major hospitals in the region. The goal is to create an environment favorable to innovative research, translation of discoveries into the clinic, and position the LA i3S at the forefront of research in the health sciences to support the implementation of key public policies in the following five main pillars:

• Fostering research excellence and internationalization;
• Expanding our cooperation, sharing and development of scientific infrastructures, providing unique research services to academia, industry and the health sector;
• Facilitating the development, mobility and employability of human capital;
• Consolidating our social impact through various clinical initiatives and through our extensive outreach programs;
• Promote pre-clinical research, investigator-initiated clinical trials, joint projects with the industry and the health sector, patenting research results and licensing them to start-ups and industry in general.

In sum, our strategy to contribute to public policies responding to scientific, health, social and economic challenges is intimately linked to our commitment and capacity to develop sustainable careers. In addition, we rely on our proven capacity to raise funding for R&D&I activities through diversified international sources, including the EU. Thus, the LA i3S constitutes a unique ecosystem that aims to cover the full cycle of innovation - from molecule to patient -, clustering research, advancing training and innovation, and consolidating several domains of the national and European public policies for science.

Associate Laboratories Funding
Title: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Reference: LA/P/0070/2020
Funding Entity: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Proponent: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - Associação
i3S Funding: 12.749.302,62 €
Execution Period: 01/01/2021 to 31/12/2025
DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0070/2020
 

Base Funding – R&D Units
Title: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Reference: UIDB/04293/2020
Funding Entity: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Proponent: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - Associação
i3S Funding: 4.157.239,53 €
Execution Period: 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2024
DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/04293/2020

Programatic Funding – R&D Units
Title: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Reference: UIDP/04293/2020
Funding Entity: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Proponent: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto - Associação
i3S Funding: 1.307.348,64 €
Execution Period: 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2024
DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/04293/2020