CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="vf-no-js"> <head> <script> // Detect if JS is on and swap vf-no-js for vf-js on the html element (function(H){H.className=H.className.replace(/\bvf-no-js\b/,'vf-js')})(document.documentElement); </script> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/css/styles.css?283970088" /> <title>About EMBL | EMBL.org</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://assets.emblstatic.net/vf/v2.5.0/assets/embl-favicon/assets/favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://assets.emblstatic.net/vf/v2.5.0/assets/embl-favicon/assets/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://assets.emblstatic.net/vf/v2.5.0/assets/embl-favicon/assets/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://assets.emblstatic.net/vf/v2.5.0/assets/embl-favicon/assets/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="manifest" href="https://assets.emblstatic.net/vf/v2.5.0/assets/embl-favicon/assets/site.webmanifest"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="https://assets.emblstatic.net/vf/v2.5.0/assets/embl-favicon/assets/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#ffffff"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <script defer src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/alpinejs/3.10.2/cdn.js" integrity="sha512-JCRiGqeZmFnnSl3E68K2QpL8Pwvp4PKAqekg41WWUfjqCnKJEv1DvZJdi76q/XFt6VzZ3V4bCE51NkDQ+dOJKA==" crossorigin="anonymous" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></script> <link href="https://www.embl.org/news/feed/" type="application/rss+xml" rel="alternate" title="EMBL News">  <meta class="swiftype" name="what" data-type="string" content="Page" /> <meta class="swiftype" name="where" data-type="string" content="EMBL" /> <meta class="swiftype" name="keywords" data-type="string" content="EMBL, basic research, molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, biophysics, developmental biology, chemical biology, bioinformatics, PhD Programme, conferences, Science Society, central services, technology transfer, teacher training, postdocs"> <meta class="swiftype" name="page-description" data-type="string" content="With 29 member states, laboratories at six locations across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a powerhouse of biological expertise. The intergovernmental organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg, was founded in 1974 with the mission of promoting molecular biology research in Europe, training young scientists, and developing new technologies.">  <meta name="title" content="About EMBL"> <meta name="author" content="EMBL"> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow"> <meta name="keywords" content="EMBL, basic research, molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, biophysics, developmental biology, chemical biology, bioinformatics, PhD Programme, conferences, Science Society, central services, technology transfer, teacher training, postdocs"> <meta name="description" content="With 29 member states, laboratories at six locations across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a powerhouse of biological expertise. The intergovernmental organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg, was founded in 1974 with the mission of promoting molecular biology research in Europe, training young scientists, and developing new technologies.">  <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://embl.org/about/"> <meta property="og:title" content="About EMBL"> <meta property="og:description" content="With 29 member states, laboratories at six locations across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a powerhouse of biological expertise. The intergovernmental organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg, was founded in 1974 with the mission of promoting molecular biology research in Europe, training young scientists, and developing new technologies."> <meta property="og:image" content="https://acxngcvroo.cloudimg.io/v7/www.embl.org/files/wp-content/uploads/20210426_EMBL_About_3000x1000-scaled.jpg">  <meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://embl.org/about/"> <meta property="twitter:title" content="About EMBL"> <meta property="twitter:description" content="With 29 member states, laboratories at six locations across Europe and thousands of scientists and engineers working together, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a powerhouse of biological expertise. The intergovernmental organisation, headquartered in Heidelberg, was founded in 1974 with the mission of promoting molecular biology research in Europe, training young scientists, and developing new technologies."> <meta property="twitter:image" content="https://acxngcvroo.cloudimg.io/v7/www.embl.org/files/wp-content/uploads/20210426_EMBL_About_3000x1000-scaled.jpg">  <meta name="embl:who" content="none"> <meta name="embl:where" content="EMBL"> <meta name="embl:what" content="About EMBL"> <meta name="embl:active" content="what">  <meta name="embl:utility" content="0"> <meta name="embl:reach" content="10">  <meta name="embl:maintainer" content="EMBL Communications"> <meta name="embl:last-review" content="2025.03.31"> <meta name="embl:review-cycle" content="365"> <meta name="embl:expiry" content="never">  <meta name="vf:page-type" content=""> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="P8WEi_8Iucrwtx5qXXNEhFnrASPM74bT0iS77cDoQKk" /> </head> <body class="vf-body vf-stack | emblstatic-aboutpage"> <style>head, title, link, meta, style, script, #contentDbItem00000, #contentDbItem00004 {--vf-stack-margin--custom: 0; }</style>  <link rel="import" href="https://www.embl.org/api/v1/pattern.html?filter-content-type=article&filter-id=108434&pattern=node-body&source=contenthub" data-target="self" data-embl-js-content-hub-loader> <section data-vf-google-analytics-region="embl-navigation"> <nav class="vf-navigation vf-navigation--main | vf-cluster"> <ul class="vf-navigation__list | vf-list | vf-cluster__inner"> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="/research" class="vf-navigation__link">Research</a> </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="/services-facilities" class="vf-navigation__link">Services</a> </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="/training" class="vf-navigation__link">Training</a> </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="/careers/" class="vf-navigation__link">Careers</a> </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="/about" class="vf-navigation__link" aria-current="page">About</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </section> <section class="vf-hero vf-hero--1200 | vf-u-fullbleed" style="--vf-hero--bg-image: url(https://acxngcvroo.cloudimg.io/v7/www.embl.org/files/wp-content/uploads/20210426_EMBL_About_3000x1000-scaled.jpg);"> <div class="vf-hero__content | vf-box | vf-stack vf-stack--400"> <h1 class="vf-hero__heading">About EMBL</h1> <p class="vf-hero__subheading">We are Europe鈥檚 life sciences laboratory</p> <p class="vf-hero__text">We operate <a class='vf-link' href='/sites/'>six sites</a> across Europe each with its own research units, services and facilities.</p></div> </section> <section class="vf-card-container vf-u-fullbleed | vf-u-background-color-ui--grey--light"> <div class="vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3"> <div class="vf-grid__col--span-2 | vf-content vf-stack vf-stack--400"> <p class="vf-lede">With 29 member states, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) has more than 110 independent research groups and service teams covering the spectrum of molecular biology at six sites in <a href="/sites/barcelona/">Barcelona</a>, <a href="/sites/grenoble/">Grenoble</a>, <a href="/sites/hamburg/">Hamburg</a>, <a href="/sites/heidelberg/">Heidelberg</a>, <a href="https://www.ebi.ac.uk/">EMBL-EBI Hinxton</a>, and <a href="/sites/rome/">Rome</a>.</p> <div class="vf-section-header"><h2 class="vf-section-header__heading"> Governance</h2></div> <p><a href="/about/info/embl-council/">EMBL Council</a> comprises national representatives of our <a href="/about/member-states/">member states</a> and is EMBL鈥檚 <a href="/governance/">governing body</a>. EMBL is led by Interim Director General <a href="https://www.embl.org/people/person/bork/">Peer Bork</a> alongside Executive Director, <a href="https://www.ebi.ac.uk/people/person/ewan-birney/">Ewan Birney</a>.</p> <p>EMBL pursues <a href="/about/missions/">five missions</a> in research, services, training, technology transfer and policy development. Our five-year plans are set out in our <a href="/about/programme/">Scientific Programme</a>.</p> <div class="vf-section-header"><h2 class="vf-section-header__heading"> A leader in Europe and worldwide</h2></div> <p>EMBL fosters <a href="/international-relations/">International Relations</a> across Europe and worldwide, and we have <a href="/partnerships/">partnerships</a> with comparable institutions. Our <a href="/about/strategy/">Strategy Office</a> aligns activities across all sites, and you can learn more in our <a href="/about/history/">History and Legal Status</a> section.</p> </div> </div> </section> <nav class="vf-navigation vf-navigation--on-this-page | vf-u-fullbleed | vf-cluster"> <ul class="vf-navigation__list | vf-list | vf-cluster__inner" data-vf-js-navigation-on-this-page-container="true"> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> On this page </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="#activities" class="vf-navigation__link" aria-selected="true">Organisational activities</a> </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="#public-engagement-outreach" class="vf-navigation__link">Science Education and Public Engagement</a> </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="#open-science" class="vf-navigation__link">Open Science</a> </li> <li class="vf-navigation__item"> <a href="#sustainable" class="vf-navigation__link">Sustainable and inclusive</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <section class="vf-card-container vf-card-container__col-3" style="--vf-card__image--aspect-ratio: 16 / 9;" > <div class="vf-card-container__inner"> <div class="vf-section-header"><h2 class="vf-section-header__heading" id="activities"> Organisational activities</h2><p class="vf-section-header__text"></p></div> <article class="vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--striped" > <img src="https://www.embl.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CPP_Dinner_2015_S7A2644-WEB.jpg" alt="" class="vf-card__image" loading="lazy"> <div class="vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400"><h3 class="vf-card__heading"><a class="vf-card__link" href="/industry/">Innovation and Translation <svg aria-hidden="true" class="vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end" width="1em" height="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg> </a></h3> <p class="vf-card__text">EMBL harnesses its entrepreneurial spirit through technology-transfer programmes, industry relations and technology spin-offs.</p> </div> </article> <article class="vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--striped" > <img src="https://www.embl.org/about/info/support/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/eri.jpg" alt="" class="vf-card__image" loading="lazy"> <div class="vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400"><h3 class="vf-card__heading"><a class="vf-card__link" href="/about/info/support/">Support EMBL <svg aria-hidden="true" class="vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end" width="1em" height="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg> </a></h3> <p class="vf-card__text">By supporting EMBL with your philanthropic contribution, you are enabling progress in its purest form.</p> </div> </article> <article class="vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--striped" > <img src="https://acxngcvroo.cloudimg.io/v7/www.embl.org/files/wp-content/uploads/Training-stock-images-310-m.jpg" alt="" class="vf-card__image" loading="lazy"> <div class="vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400"><h3 class="vf-card__heading"><a class="vf-card__link" href="/administration/">Administration <svg aria-hidden="true" class="vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end" width="1em" height="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg> </a></h3> <p class="vf-card__text">Our Administration units support all parts of EMBL and deliver long-term strategic administrative planning.</p> </div> </article> <article class="vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--striped" > <img src="https://acxngcvroo.cloudimg.io/v7/www.embl.org/files/wp-content/uploads/alumni-visual-1000x600-1.jpg" alt="" class="vf-card__image" loading="lazy"> <div class="vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400"><h3 class="vf-card__heading"><a class="vf-card__link" href="/about/info/alumni/">Alumni <svg aria-hidden="true" class="vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end" width="1em" height="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg> </a></h3> <p class="vf-card__text">We foster connections between the laboratory, its member states, current EMBL staff, EMBL alumni and the public.</p> </div> </article> <article class="vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--striped" > <img src="https://acxngcvroo.cloudimg.io/v7/www.embl.org/files/wp-content/uploads/20231109_KV_Ethics-Academy_1920px.jpg" alt="" class="vf-card__image" loading="lazy"> <div class="vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400"><h3 class="vf-card__heading"><a class="vf-card__link" href="/about/info/bioethics/">Ethics at EMBL <svg aria-hidden="true" class="vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end" width="1em" height="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg> </a></h3> <p class="vf-card__text">We embed ethics governance, assurance, training & engagement functions across EMBL鈥檚 activities.</p> </div> </article> <article class="vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--striped" > <img src="https://acxngcvroo.cloudimg.io/v7/www.embl.org/files/wp-content/uploads/comms-visual-s.jpg" alt="" class="vf-card__image" loading="lazy"> <div class="vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400"><h3 class="vf-card__heading"><a class="vf-card__link" href="/about/info/communications/">Communications <svg aria-hidden="true" class="vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end" width="1em" height="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg> </a></h3> <p class="vf-card__text">We seek to inform, inspire, and engage society with EMBL鈥檚 research, services and training.</p> </div> </article> </div> </section> <section class="embl-grid embl-grid--has-centered-content" id="public-engagement-outreach"> <div class="vf-section-header"><h2 class="vf-section-header__heading" id="public-engagement-outreach"> Science Education and Public Engagement</h2></div> <div class="vf-content"> <p>Our science education and public engagement activities seek to ensure wider awareness and application of EMBL鈥檚 knowledge by general scientific audiences, teachers, young learners, and the public.</p> <p><a href="/about/science-education-public-engagement/">Learn more about our science education and public engagement activities</a>.</p> </div> </section> <hr class="vf-divider"> <section class="embl-grid embl-grid--has-centered-content" id="open-science"> <div class="vf-section-header"><h2 class="vf-section-header__heading" id="open-science"> Our commitment to Open Science</h2></div> <div class="vf-content"> <p>Wherever possible our databases and software are freely available to the scientific community, and our <a href="/about/scientific-information-management/">Office for Scientific Information Management (OSIM)</a> provides a hub of expertise on the management of scientific outputs and related services.</p> <p>EMBL strongly encourages <a href="/about/open-science/">open access publication</a> and is committed to support fair and responsible <a href="/about/research-assessment/">research assessment practices</a>.</p> </div> </section> <hr class="vf-divider"> <section class="embl-grid embl-grid--has-centered-content" id="sustainable"> <div class="vf-section-header"><h2 class="vf-section-header__heading" id="sustainable"> Sustainable and inclusive</h2></div> <div class="vf-content"> <p>We are committed to transitioning to a <a href="/about/info/sustainability/">sustainable</a> organisation, and to creating a more <a href="/about/info/equality-diversity/">inclusive</a> research and work culture, including the provision of <a href="/about/ombuds-office/">independent and impartial</a> support for staff.</p> <p><a href="/careers/">Learn more about working at EMBL</a>.</p> </div> </section> <section class="vf-hero vf-hero--800 | vf-u-fullbleed" style="--vf-hero--bg-image: url(https://www.embl.org/about/info/annual-report/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240502_Hero-Banner-scaled.jpg);"> <div class="vf-hero__content | vf-box | vf-stack vf-stack--400"> <h1 class="vf-hero__heading">EMBL 2023 Annual Report</h1> <a class="vf-hero__link" href="/about/info/annual-report/">Read EMBL鈥檚 mission highlights of 2023<svg width="24" height="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z" fill="" fill-rule="nonzero"></path></svg> </a></div> </section>  <link rel="import" href="https://www.embl.org/api/v1/pattern.html?filter-content-type=article&filter-id=108436&pattern=node-body&source=contenthub" data-target="self" data-embl-js-content-hub-loader>  <script nomodule crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://polyfill.io/v3/polyfill.min.js?flags=gated&features=default"></script> <script src="/scripts/scripts.js?283970088"></script>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-QZCS800LM6"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-QZCS800LM6'); </script>  </body> </html>