# Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control

> research institution in London

**Wikidata**: [Q103839131](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103839131)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/commonwealth-institute-of-biological-control

## Summary
The Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (CIBC) was a research institute based in London, United Kingdom, dedicated to the generation of new knowledge through systematic investigation. Established in 1926, the organization operated for over seventy years before merging into CAB International in 1998.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** 1926
- **Dissolved:** 1998
- **Location:** London, United Kingdom
- **Type:** Research Institute
- **Successor:** Merged into CAB International
- **Alternate Names:** Imperial Institute of Biological Control, International Institute of Biological Control, CIBC, IIBC
- **Library Identifiers:** IdRef ID 136655874; NL CR AUT ID nlk20050162257 / nlk20050162239; National Library of Israel J9U ID 987007449116905171

## FAQs

### What was the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control?
It was a research institute located in London that functioned as an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation. Unlike a university, its primary purpose was conducting research rather than teaching.

### When was the organization active?
The institute was established in 1926 and ceased to exist as an independent entity in 1998 when it was merged into CAB International.

### Did the organization have any other names?
Yes, it was also known as the Imperial Institute of Biological Control and the International Institute of Biological Control. It utilized the acronyms CIBC and IIBC.

## Why It Matters
As a specialized research institute, the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control represented a distinct organizational form focused purely on generating knowledge rather than balancing teaching or commercial interests. Its existence highlights the historical infrastructure dedicated to specific scientific inquiry within the United Kingdom. The organization's eventual merger into CAB International in 1998 reflects the consolidation of scientific research bodies into larger international organizations, a trend aimed at concentrating resources and talent to better address complex global challenges.

## Notable For
- Operating as a dedicated research institute distinct from academic or commercial entities.
- Serving as a predecessor organization to the current CAB International structure.
- Maintaining distinct identities under both "Imperial" and "Commonwealth" designations during its history.
- Holding specific cataloging authorities in major library systems including the IdRef and the National Library of Israel.

## Body

### Organizational Classification
The Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control was classified as a research institute. This categorization distinguishes it from universities, which balance teaching and research missions, and companies that pursue research for commercial ends. As a research institute, its sole purpose was to conduct research and generate new knowledge through systematic investigation.

It is formally differentiated from scientific societies and learned societies, which are membership-based organizations, and from think tanks, which focus on policy research. In library and knowledge organization systems, the entity falls under the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 and utilizes the Geonames feature code S.ITTR for geographic identification.

### History and Timeline
The institute was founded in 1926. It operated for much of the 20th century before undergoing a significant structural change in 1998. At that point, the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control was dissolved as an independent entity and merged into CAB International.

### Nomenclature and Identity
Throughout its history, the organization was identified by several names and acronyms:
*   **Imperial Institute of Biological Control**
*   **International Institute of Biological Control**
*   **CIBC**
*   **IIBC**

### Identification and Authority Control
The entity is tracked in multiple bibliographic and authority control systems:
*   **IdRef:** 136655874
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007449116905171
*   **NL CR AUT IDs:** nlk20050162257 (Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control) and nlk20050162239 (International Institute of Biological Control).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://www.cabi.org/wp-content/uploads/100-Year-Book.pdf)
3. Czech National Authority Database