Pólo I - Edífico Central Rua Larga 3004-504 CoimbraThe current landscape of biobanking is characterized by heterogeneity in procedures of collection, preservation and information systems and lack of collaborative work, which hampers full exploitation of the existing resources and increased costs. Herein we propose the creation of a national biobank (Biobanco.pt), a pivotal national biomedical research infrastructure aimed to maximize national and international collaborative investigations using human samples, and respective detailed clinical information, collected in Portugal. Biobanco- IMM, which has now more than 60 000 samples and has already provided support to several national and international research projects, will lead a consortium composed by: Biobanco-NOVA, Biobanco-IGC, Biobanco-Champalimaud, Biobanco-INSA, Biobanco-ISPUP, Biobanco-Coimbra, Azorbio and Rede Nacional de Bancos de Tumores. This joint effort of major biomedical research and health institutions will provide standardization in all aspects of biobanking activities, high-quality processing and storage facilities for biological samples associated with rigorous clinical characterization, sharing of existing equipment resources and expertise and offering of sample characterization services. The underlying strategy is to build-up on existing resources and to promote synergy, thus maximizing efficacy and minimizing duplicated efforts and costs. This national scientific infrastructure will create unique opportunities for integrating national researchers into worldwide consortia including academic or pharmaceutical industry research, acting synergistically for the development of national science and economy. Biobanco.pt, will be in a privileged position to become a national node for the European Biobank Network, the Biobanking and Molecular Resource Infrastructure (BBMRI) and to participate in the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). It will contribute to the international visibility of national research, improving its opportunities for growth and for access to international research funds, including direct funding of biobanking activities. In the horizon of 2020 this proposal will pave the way to a tangible national contribution to biomedical research at the European scale, especially regarding the societal challenge “Health, demographic change and wellbeing’, in which the majority of topics include clinical research activities and the subsequent use of biological samples and associated clinical data. The continuation of Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI2) and European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) in Horizon 2020 promises to be a great opportunity for Biobanco.pt to foster collaborations and attract European funding. At a national level, Biobanco.pt will be committed to interact with other research networks, including the Portuguese Clinical Research Infrastructures Network (PtCRIN) and the GenomePortugal.