EU-LIFE

EU-LIFE is an alliance of leading European research institutes in the life sciences, united by a shared commitment to excellence, open science, and shaping the future of research in Europe. Founded in 2013, EU-LIFE brings together independent institutes that are at the forefront of biomedical and molecular life science research.

Key Objectives of EU-LIFE

• Strengthening scientific excellence and leadership in Europe
• Promoting best practices in research governance, evaluation, and training
• Advocating for sustainable research funding and open science
• Fostering collaboration, mobility, and knowledge exchange among institutes
• EU-LIFE serves as a strong voice for research institutes in European science policy, while fostering a vibrant network that empowers researchers and institutes to thrive.

CeMM has been a proud member of the network since its creation in 2013, actively contributing to all activities, working groups, projects, and events that advance the EU-LIFE's agenda. CeMM Director Giulio Superti-Furga served as EU-LIFE co-chair (2022–2023) and is the current chair (2024–2025), working alongside Marta Miączyńska, Director of the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IIMCB) in Warsaw, as co-chair. The leadership team is supported by Executive Director Marta Agostinho and her team based at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, Spain.

EU-LIFE Structure and Collaborative Framework

EU-LIFE activities are coordinated by expert-led working groups from member institutes. Each working group elects a chair, who meets biannually with the Strategy Group to align on key actions and review progress. As of late 2024, there were eight active working groups: Core Facilities, Gender Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Grants & Funding Strategies, HR, IT, Recruitment & Training, Science Communication, and Technology Transfer. Additionally, six task forces address strategic challenges: Indicators & Publications, Office & Lab Space, Policy, Postdoc Initiative, Research Infrastructures, and Sustainability.

EU-LIFE Policy Impact and Publications

EU-LIFE regularly publishes its views in position papers, ranging from policy statements to detailed analysis and concrete recommendations, with the overall goal to support and strengthen research in Europe. Position papers on EU-LIFE’s Guiding Principles for FP10 and a vision for the European Innovation Council (EIC), as well as EU-LIFE recommendations for MSCA Actions were launched in 2024. A major milestone was the release of the EU-LIFE Charter of Independent Life Science Research Institutes in FEBS letters on 21 March 2024.

The Charter outlines ten core principles: excellence, independence, training, internationality and inclusivity, mission focus, technological advancement, administrative innovation, cooperation, societal impact, and public engagement. These principles aim to inspire new institutes and highlight their critical role in the European Research Area.

Through EU-LIFE, CeMM reinforces its role in fostering a collaborative, innovative, and resilient European life sciences research ecosystem.

Learn more at eu-life.eu

The 17 EU-LIFE Member Institutes

• Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
• BRIC—Biotech Research & Innovation Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark
• CEITEC—Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
• CeMM—Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
• CRG—Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain
• CRICK - Francis Crick Institute, UK
• FIMM—Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki, Finland
• FMI—Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
• GIMM—Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
• IEO—European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
• IIMCB—International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
• IMBB-FORTH—Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
• Institute Curie, Paris, France
• MDC—Max Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany
• NKI—The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• RB—Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
• VIB—Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent, Belgium

This collection of scientific stories from EU-LIFE institutes demonstrate how fundamental research can have far-reaching consequences, beyond the initial discoveries. They serve as a reminder of the importance of investing in science, encouraging curiosity-driven studies, and nurturing a supportive research environment.