The BIEN 2 database is an extension of the original BIEN database developed by Steve Dolins and his students, with additional data sources, more extensive validations and richer metadata. BIEN 2 consists of a core database containing the raw, normalized data, and an analytical database consisting of alternative views of the raw data, aggregated and standardized in various ways. Most users will interact with the BIEN 2 analytical database.

The BIEN 2 database was released during 2011. Development of the BIEN 2 analytical database continued throughout 2012, simultaneous with development of the BIEN 3 database.