The goal of the IABIN Gateway is to provide tools for searching of electronic data originating from heterogeneous sources located throughout the region, at the same time, to conceal (from the user's perspective) variations in data format and technologies used by the network participants. To achieve interoperability between the disparate systems and technologies that are used by network participants and data providers, contributors to the network must adhere to a minimum set of data standards and communication protocols that allow the systems, connected via the Internet, to "talk to each other".

This site provides a basic set of data standards and communications protocols that will provide connectivity and interoperability within the IABIN network. These standards and protocols provide biological information consumers the capability to query multiple, distributed data sources from a single user interface and provide access to network holdings, including data and information, as well as those of other agencies regardless of its location within the IABIN network.

The standards presented herein are an initial set, and IABIN's protocols and standards will always be subject to evolution and constant review.