Setting up of it was the result of a 7.5 million Euro grant from Programme CIÊNCIA, through three contracts signed in 1991, one for each of the university members. A separate and complementary agreement was signed between the University of Aveiro and Portugal Telecom. This investment enabled new infrastructures to be built and research laboratories to be equipped. it research centres were built in the premises of the three University partners. Installation was concluded in Aveiro in 1993 and in Lisbon and Coimbra in 1994.

As a consequence of the initial contracts, all it infrastructures (buildings and equipment) legally belong to its university members. Yet, as another consequence of the rules imposed by CIÊNCIA, the founding members provide it with most of the human resources required for its mission.

In recognition of its achievements, it was awarded the status of Associate Laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry for Science and Technology in 2001.