To foster collaboration between scientific communities in Europe and around the world
With its strong focus on scientific excellence, and through these trusted networks, EMBL forms the basis for successful multi-level science diplomacy.
“By building advanced AI-based approaches to science and fostering collaboration across Europe, EMBL is paving the way for new discoveries. We look forward to deepening the partnership between EMBL and ELLIS and driving interdisciplinary research.”
— Serge Belongie, Professor of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, and Board President, European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS)
Alongside the European Commission and other European partners, EMBL explored ways for AI to advance life-science research. EMBL solidified its collaborative role with the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems. And the Hector Foundation committed important new support to transformative key EMBL AI initiatives.
A formalised collaboration will promote interdisciplinary training and develop innovative projects that address pressing challenges in human and planetary health.
Significant funding from the Hector Foundation will support initiatives that expand EMBL’s future AI capabilities.
EMBL joined European partners at AIS25 to explore how AI can advance life-science research and support Europe’s emerging strategy for AI in science.
“I think true collaboration means you actually get together, and you use each other’s expertise to achieve something more – one plus one equals three. Europe is an amazing place for science. There are many places with unique expertise. I think EMBL has a central role there because it’s a Europe-wide institute with a mission across all its member states.”
– Geert Kops, director of the Hubrecht Institute
EMBL and the Marine Research Centre at the University of Vigo, Spain, came together for a project that includes red tide research. EMBL’s Polish partners, along with Nordic collaborator DANDRITE, met jointly to explore ways to strengthen scientific networks. The fifth EMBL Partnership Conference brought together EMBL partners specifically to explore how AI can drive innovation in One Health.
A new initiative will empower scientists in Poland with more opportunities to benefit from EMBL membership, including with Denmark’s researchers.
The fifth EMBL Partnership Conference brought together participants from EMBL and its partner institutions to explore how AI can drive innovation in One Health.
Around 40 researchers participated in the joint CELLBLOOM initiative at the Toralla Marine Science Station in Vigo, Spain.
“We aim to work with EMBL to capture the complex effects of various pollutants on biodiversity and ecosystems in the Rhine. Our goal is to understand exactly what happens at the microbial level so that protective measures can be tailored in a more targeted and evidence-based way – embedded within a European scientific framework.”
– Katrin Eder, Climate Protection Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate
EMBL’s TREC initiative began a pilot project on the Rhine River. EMBL formalised its relationships with Australian research entities to encourage collaboration in bioinformatics and related activities. An event with prospect member state Bulgaria showcased collaborative opportunities.
Australian BioCommons, Bioplatforms Australia, and EMBL signed a formal agreement to encourage collaboration in bioinformatics and related activities.
Through its TREC programme, EMBL initiated sampling in the Rhine River to investigate undetermined microbial diversity, the impacts of pollutants, and antibiotic resistance.
An info-sharing event showcased increasing opportunities available to Bulgarian scientists in EMBL’s newest prospect member state.
“We highly value collaborative work with our partner organisations, which is more important for European and global science than ever before. We look forward to steering fruitful discussions and actions that reaffirm the importance of EIROforum as a critical asset for European discovery-driven research, innovation, and competitiveness.”
– Ewan Birney, while serving as EMBL Interim Executive Director, on EMBL assuming the role of EIROforum Chair
In 2025, EMBL started its term of chairing the EIROforum presidency. EMBL also submitted expert advice on key priorities to the European Commission’s strategies for research infrastructures and life sciences.
EMBL submitted a series of recommendations to the European Commission for its ‘Strategy for European Life Sciences’.
EMBL’s year-long presidency of the European Intergovernmental Research Organisation forum began in July 2025.
“Supporting a Lecture in the name of Fotis Kafatos is deeply personal and a way to give something back to the community that shaped my life.”
— Waltraud Ackermann, former Personal Assistant to EMBL’s first three Directors General — Sir John Kendrew, Lennart Philipson, and Fotis Kafatos. In 2025, she made a generous donation to sustain the Kafatos Lecture while EMBL seeks a long-term donor.
A new donation from alumna Waltraud Ackermann supported the Kafatos lecture this year, which once again brought world-class life sciences and scientists to the wider public, such as the 2025 speaker, Nobel Laureate May-Britt Moser. The 2025 alumni award recipients represented the continuing excellence seen in the work of EMBL alumni.
Nobel Laureate May-Britt Moser provided an update on her groundbreaking research about grid cells at the 2025 Kafatos Lecture in Norway.
Two former EMBL scientists were recognised for outstanding contributions to genome engineering and structural biology instrumentation.
Alumna Waltraud Ackermann made a generous gift to the Kafatos Lecture series, helping to ensure this event continues to bring world-class life sciences to the public each year.
EMBL’s 6,006 alumni are a network of highly trained scientists and other professionals who bring the EMBL model of research to other institutions and help connect local scientific communities to EMBL. Approximately 2,212 of whom engaged in activities and initiatives across EMBL sites as ambassadors, participants, volunteers, and donors.
