The Evolutionary and Complex Systems Group (ECOS) is an Artificial Intelligence research group of the Centre for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra (CISUC), Portugal. ECOS research is based on the development of bio-inspired optimization algorithms and on the application of machine learning methods to extract useful knowledge and patterns from different data sources. Our group has a strong tradition for collaborations with national and international research groups, aiming at developing methods that can effectively address real problems arising in different areas. In this presentation we will provide a general overview of several problems that have been addressed in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry, and life sciences.