The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) was founded in 1974 on the basis of an intergovernmental treaty signed by ten European countries: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The creation of this Laboratory arose from the idea of prominent scientists to create a supranational research center similar to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), to redress the balance in the field of molecular biology, which was then strongly dominated by the USA.
EMBL was preceded by the creation of two other institutions: the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC). Find out more about the relationship between the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and EMBO and EMBC.
The number of member countries has progressively increased to 29: Finland (1984), Greece (1984), Norway (1985), Spain (1986), Belgium (1990), Portugal (1998), Ireland (2003), Iceland (2005), Croatia (2006), Luxembourg (2007), Czech Republic (2014), Malta (2016), Hungary (2017), Slovakia (2018), Montenegro (2018), Poland (2019), Lithuania (2019), Estonia (2023) and Latvia (2023).
In addition to these countries, the EMBL counts Australia as a participant with associate country status and Latvia as a participant with candidate member country status.
Portugal joined EMBL in 1998 and over time has participated and become involved in the activities at the heart of EMBL's missions.
EMBL is today Europe's leading laboratory for basic research in molecular biology and has its headquarters and main laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. It also has five hubs in Hinxton (the Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI), Grenoble, Hamburg, Rome (Monterotondo ) and Barcelona. EMBL attracts both young researchers and established scientists from all over the world to these six locations.
With around 1,800 people working in six locations across Europe, around 700 publications are produced each year and events and conferences are organized at the forefront of biological research.
This infrastructure, established to promote molecular biology throughout Europe and create a center of excellence for top training in Europe, pursues five missions:
- Doing basic research in molecular biology;
- Offering vital services to scientists in member countries and around the world;
- To train scientists, students and visitors at all levels;
- Actively participate in technology transfer and relations with industry;
- Coordinating and integrating European life sciences research.
Technological Internships at EMBL
In August 2017, FCT and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) signed a protocol with the aim of promoting technological internships for young Portuguese graduates, through Studentships awarded by FCT. The protocol was renewed in September 2020.
Under this protocol, the FCT is responsible for implementing the internship program, selecting candidates and monitoring the work carried out by the interns.
The internships, which last at least one year and can be renewed for a further year, are selected according to technological fields, with special attention being paid to the project, the training framework and the future placement of the interns in innovation-oriented Portuguese companies.
Industrial relations
EMBL employs some of Europe's best researchers, bringing together biologists, engineers, information technology professionals and numerous other scientific specializations. In addition, EMBL's research has many practical and industrial applications.
EMBL's entrepreneurial spirit takes the form of technology transfer programs and technological spin-offs.
-
State
Active
-
Website
-
Contact
-
Share
