How International Collaboration Powers Life Science Breakthroughs
Europe's premier life sciences laboratory supported by more than 30 member states
In an era of global challenges—from climate change to pandemics—scientific progress depends increasingly on international collaboration and stable funding. At the heart of Europe's molecular biology research stands EMBL, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, an intergovernmental organization celebrating over 50 years of groundbreaking discoveries.
EMBL's story began in 1974 with just 10 founding nations. These visionary countries recognized that complex biological questions required resources beyond any single nation's capacity.
The laboratory has since expanded to include more than 20 additional member states, with recent additions including Estonia and Latvia in 2023 1 .
EMBL's multi-national support system provides stable, long-term investment in basic science that forms the foundation for medical advances, environmental solutions, and technological innovations.
This funding model insulates research from political shifts and national budget fluctuations.
10 Member States: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
5 New Members: Finland, Greece, Norway, Spain, Belgium
Total: 15 Member States
5 New Members: Portugal, Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, Luxembourg
Total: 20 Member States
9+ New Members: Czech Republic, Malta, Hungary, Slovakia, Montenegro, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia
Total: 29+ Member States
Member States
Research Sites
Years of Discovery
EMBL researchers leverage stable funding to address humanity's most pressing issues. The laboratory's work spans the entire spectrum of molecular biology, with direct implications for understanding disease, developing therapeutics, and protecting our environment.
"Climate change, biodiversity loss, and human disease are all inextricably linked," notes EMBL's philosophy statement 5 .
EMBL's expeditions and mobile labs study freshwater ecosystems to understand environmental impacts at the molecular level.
EMBL's cross-disciplinary approach connects fundamental biology to medical applications.
Research spans from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem-scale biology, with discoveries forming the foundation for medical advances.
EMBL's AI strategy, backed by the German Hector Foundation, integrates artificial intelligence across life science research.
This accelerates discoveries and enables analysis of complex biological data at unprecedented scales.
"Discoveries in biology will have a positive impact on our lives and those of future generations." 5
This interconnected view of biological systems drives EMBL's cross-disciplinary approach, where chemists, physicists, computer scientists, and biologists collaborate on common problems.
Member state contributions enable long-term research projects that might be deemed too risky for short-term grant cycles. This supportive environment has made EMBL a magnet for scientific talent, attracting and nurturing brilliant researchers from across the globe.
To understand how member state support translates into scientific discovery, we examine a specific research project enabled by this collaborative framework.
Michael Dorrity, an EMBL Heidelberg group leader, received an ERC Starting Grant (part of the Horizon Europe programme) to investigate one of development biology's most fascinating questions: how do embryos maintain perfect timing despite environmental variations? 8
| Discovery | Biological Significance |
|---|---|
| Cellular Synchronization | Reveals existence of local "pacemaker" regions that coordinate developmental timing |
| Molecular Buffers | Explains how protein synthesis rates remain constant despite environmental challenges |
| Alternative Timing | Suggests timing differences are sometimes programmed rather than accidental |
| Critical Windows | Identifies vulnerable periods for developmental disorders |
"Our project is using new genomic technologies to disentangle the temporal relationships between cells in a developing embryo. Do cells follow developmental trajectories synchronously? What molecular processes drive some cells to progress faster or slower?"
| Research Tool | Function | Application in Developmental Research |
|---|---|---|
| Single-cell RNA sequencing | Measures gene expression in individual cells | Tracking cell fate decisions during embryonic development |
| CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing | Precisely modifies genetic sequences | Testing function of timing genes identified in genomic studies |
| Live-cell imaging platforms | Visualizes biological processes in real time | Monitoring cell movements and divisions in developing embryos |
| Bioinformatics pipelines | Analyzes large genomic datasets | Identifying temporal patterns across thousands of cells |
| Model organisms | Provides experimentally tractable systems | Studying conserved developmental processes across species |
As EMBL looks to the future, its collaborative model appears more relevant than ever in addressing global challenges through shared scientific endeavor.
EMBL continues to welcome new member states and build global partnerships beyond Europe.
Horizon Europe Framework Programme (2028-2034) with a budget of €175 billion enables ambitious scientific projects 4 .
EMBL's work increasingly connects molecular biology to environmental and ecosystem health.
"The Starting Grant is a strong vote of confidence from HorizonEU and from colleagues – this support enables and tremendously accelerates our lab's research programme. We're excited for the years ahead!" 8
EMBL's mission extends far beyond laboratory research. The organization serves as a vital training ground for Europe's scientific workforce, offering courses, conferences, and workshops that disseminate cutting-edge techniques and concepts.
These gatherings create scientific networks that span nations and disciplines, fostering collaborations that might otherwise never form.
As one participant noted: "The conference was very thoughtfully organized, and the subject matter allowed me to deepen my knowledge on many interesting levels." 3
In a world of increasing nationalism and scientific competition, EMBL stands as a powerful testament to what nations can achieve together.
The member states that buoy up EMBL aren't merely funding an institution—they're investing in a shared scientific future, one where discoveries made in Heidelberg benefit patients in Helsinki, technologies developed in Barcelona aid researchers in Budapest, and knowledge created in Hinxton helps educators in Helsinki.
This collaborative spirit—the recognition that fundamental biological truths know no borders—may be EMBL's most important legacy. As the laboratory continues to grow, welcoming new member states and building new partnerships, it demonstrates that while science may require individual brilliance, progress demands collective vision and sustained investment.
The member states supporting EMBL understand that tomorrow's breakthroughs depend on today's collaboration.