INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory is the first, and so far the only one, fully international research organization in Europe in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. It has an international legal framework similar to the few international laboratories in other areas located in Europe like CERN – European Organization for Nuclear Research at Geneva, ESO – European Southern Observatory, EMBL – European Molecular Biology Laboratory, ESRF – European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The new laboratory is being established by Portugal and Spain, but in the future will be open to the membership of other countries of Europe and other regions of the world.

INL is the result of a joint decision of the Governments of Portugal and Spain, taken in November 19, 2005 at the XXI Portugal-Spain Summit, in Évora, whereby the two Governments made clear their commitment to a strong cooperation in ambitious science and technology joint ventures for the future.

As announced then, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) will be installed in Braga, Portugal, having as first director the Spanish professor José Rivas, and will count with 200 researchers to be recruited all over the world, aiming at international excellence.

In January 18, 2008, at the XXIII Portugal-Spain Summit that took place in Braga, an official ceremony was organized in the campus of INL where the President of the Government of Spain and the Prime Minister of Portugal inaugurated the INL with a symbolic “first stone” formed 500 million years ago when the Iberian Peninsula was gaining shape and a nano inscription.

The public tenders for detailed design and beginning of the construction are already under way.