The Instituto Gubenkian de Ciência (IGC) is an excellent institute devoted to basic biological research and innovative graduate training. It is owned by the charitable Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, which supports science as one of its statutory obligations. In the recent international peer-review evaluation organized by FCT obtain the maximum score (25/25) classified as an exceptional national institution. The IGC hosts 400 scientists, from 41 different nationalities, aim to understand the fundamental principles of Biology, in particular how the organism is formed and interacts with its environment, leading to novel approaches towards disease treatment and world sustainability. The IGC has been exceptionally productive in number of high-quality papers, in competing for prestigious national and international grants and in training graduate students. The quality of the work published is underscored by the journal in which the works appears and the number of citations. The number of invitations to conferences, editorial boards and grant panels all testify the IGC national international recognition. The IGC strategy also incorporates investment in outstanding central resources, participation in international networks and activities, as well as in public dissemination and outreach activities.