The three research units hosted at the DEQ assured, in a joint application, the Associated Laboratory status granted by the Foundation for Science and Technology. There were 45 applications and 40 qualified for this statute.
The new Associated Laboratory, ALICE – Associated Laboratory for Innovation in Chemical Engineering mission is to contribute to scientific knowledge and its technological applications for the development of innovative processes and products, in a sustainable and efficient way, intending to respond to societal challenges and industry development. ALICE will operate in the area of Chemical Engineering, extending its expertise to Biological, Environmental, Materials and Energy Engineering
Associate Laboratories qualified by the Foundation for Science and Technology represent structural components of the National Scientific and Technological System, consisting of research and development (R&D) institutions or consortia of R&D institutions that make explicit institutional commitments to the pursuit of national scientific and technological policy objectives. They bring together one or more scientific research units and their status is granted for a period of up to 10 years, which can be renewed, but is subject to interim evaluations.
Applications were evaluated by a national panel, with the collaboration of an international scientific council.