Welcome to the Coimbra Chemistry Centre (Centro de Química de Coimbra, CQC; FCT Unit 313) website.

The CQC is the principal unit in the University of Coimbra dedicated to research in Chemistry. It provides the research infrastructure of the Department of Chemistry of the University of Coimbra and involves about 100 integrated scientists with the degree of Ph.D, together with a large number of Doctoral, Masters and project students and various associate members, both within and outside the University of Coimbra.

The scientific subjects covered by the CQC span areas ranging from theoretical and computational chemistry, physical chemistry and chemical physics, through synthetic and materials Chemistry, to macromolecules, colloids, forensic chemistry, and biological and medicinal chemistry.

The Centre has three global and complementary main objectives:

i) Advancing research in Chemistry.

ii) Developing collaborations with industry to facilitate wealth production and job creation.

iii) Providing high-level advanced training to national and international students at the Masters, Doctoral and Post-doctoral levels.

Our mission is to promote excellence in research in chemical sciences, by elucidating and controlling molecular mechanisms, paving the way for significant advances in chemistry, biology and material sciences, and meeting the evolving technological needs of our society through the design and synthesis of new molecular systems and devices. These research activities have been facilitated by the funding of well qualified personnel through the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, industry and the European Union. The activities of the CQC extend to the protection and development of intellectual property and creation of start-up companies.

The Centre collaborates fully with the Department of Chemistry and with other teaching units within and outside the University of Coimbra in the education of highly-specialized researchers, through various Masters, Doctoral and Post-doctoral programmes. The CQC is also committed to arranging and supporting workshops, seminars and conferences within its areas of expertise.

The Coimbra Chemistry Centre welcomes both short and long term visits of researchers interested to undertake scientific training or developing their research in Coimbra.