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In 1999, EMBO, EMBL, and ELSO engaged in talks to create a Forum for the life sciences in Europe, coming together at a meeting at the EMBO headquarters to establish the ELSF shortly thereafter. The ELSF aimed to empower scientists to engage more actively in strategic and science policy matters, to present a unified voice on issues of shared concern, and to enhance the visibility and policy influence of organisations representing the life sciences.

A small governing body was appointed consisting of Frank Gannon, Fotis Kafatos, Kai Simons, and Julio E. Celis as President. Luc van Dyck joined as manager six months after the organisation was created. The secretariat was set up at the EMBL/EMBO facilities in Heidelberg and the EMBL, EMBO, and FEBS offered to cover a large fraction of the expenses for a period of 3 years.

Additionally, the ELSF identified as priorities the career of young scientists and the creation of a European Research Council (ERC) to support basic research.

The European Life Sciences Organisation was created to administer and organise an annual meeting regarding European Biology. Following the annual conference in Nice in 2008, ELSO fused with EMBO and therefore ceased its functions as an independent organisation.

In December 1965 EMBO secured a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation to fund their activities for 3 years. EMBO was keen that it’s financial support from the VW foundation

not be permanent, as it wished for its long term funding to come from all participating nations, rather than organisations belonging to just one in order to ensure its independence.
EMBO, alongside its Swiss partners, organized two “temporary” conferences attended by governmental representatives to establish a consensus for an inter-governmental organization. The two focus points of these meetings were the long-term management of EMBO’s programs, and the question of establishing a European Laboratory.
Through these two conferences the constitution of the European Molecular Biology Conference was established, and in 1970, 14 governments officially established the EMBC, which to the present day supports EMBO’s General Programme. Over the years this programme has expanded through the EMBC creating “special projects” to allow new activities to be performed under EMBO’s remit. It’s through this system that EMBL was born, as well as newer EMBO programmes like its Global Activities and Young Investigator Programme.

In December 1965 EMBO secured a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation to fund their activities for 3 years. EMBO was keen that it’s financial support from the VW foundation not be permanent, as it wished for its long term funding to come from all participating nations, rather than organisations belonging to just one in order to ensure its independence.

EMBO, alongside its Swiss partners, organized two “temporary” conferences attended by governmental representatives to establish a consensus for an inter-governmental organization. The two focus points of these meetings were the long-term management of EMBO’s programs, and the question of establishing a European Laboratory.

Through these two conferences the constitution of the European Molecular Biology Conference was established, and in 1970, 14 governments officially established the EMBC, which to the present day supports EMBO’s General Programme. Over the years this programme has expanded through the EMBC creating “special projects” to allow new activities to be performed. It was through this process that the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) was created.

In December 1965 EMBO secured a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation to fund their activities for 3 years. EMBO was keen that it’s financial support from the VW foundation not be permanent, as it wished for its long term funding to come from all participating nations, rather than organisations belonging to just one in order to ensure its independence.

EMBO, alongside its Swiss partners, organized two “temporary” conferences attended by governmental representatives to establish a consensus for an inter-governmental organization. The two focus points of these meetings were the long-term management of EMBO’s programs, and the question of establishing a European Laboratory.

Through these two conferences the constitution of the European Molecular Biology Conference was established, and in 1970, 14 governments officially established the EMBC, which to the present day supports EMBO’s General Programme. Over the years this programme has expanded through the EMBC creating “special projects” to allow new activities to be performed. It was through this process that the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) was created.

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) was founded in 1964 as a professional society for life scientists with the goal of strengthening molecular biology research in Europe and fostering international collaboration. Its creation was inspired by a growing recognition in the postwar period that Europe needed stronger infrastructure and cooperation to remain competitive in biological sciences, particularly compared with the United States.

In its early years, EMBO focused on supporting scientific exchange and training, notably through fellowships that enabled young researchers to work abroad and acquire new expertise, as well as its core membership. EMBO also began organising scientific meetings, workshops, and courses that encouraged collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge across national boundaries.

As one way of meeting its goals, EMBO considered the creation of a central laboratory, and along with the EMBC created the EMBL in 1974.

Over time, EMBO expanded its activities to include scientific publishing (launching The EMBO Journal in 1982, followed by other high-impact journals), policy advocacy for life sciences, and the development of programs that supported career progression, such as the EMBO Young Investigator Programme (1999) and EMBO Global Investigator Network (2019).

Today, EMBO represents over 2,000 elected members and associate members worldwide. It continues to play a vital role in promoting excellence in the life sciences through funding, training, networking, publishing, and policy engagement, with an enduring emphasis on international cooperation and scientific quality.

The European Science Foundation was established in 1974 as an association of major national funding agencies and research organisations across Europe. Its mission was to promote high-quality science in a European context by coordinating research activities, funding collaborative programmes, and facilitating scientific networking across disciplines. Headquartered in Strasbourg, France, ESF played a significant role in shaping European research policy, supporting mobility and cooperation, and fostering new areas of scientific inquiry. From the 1980s through the early 2000s, it sponsored research programmes, exploratory workshops, and networking activities across the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. With the rise of the European Union’s Framework Programmes and the creation of the European Research Council, ESF’s role gradually shifted. In the 2010s it restructured, winding down many of its scientific programmes and transitioning to a service-based organisation supporting peer review, evaluation, and research management.

The EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) is a biennial, pan-European meeting dedicated to scientific research, innovation, and dialogue between science and society. It was launched in 2004 in Stockholm under the auspices of EuroScience, a grassroots association of researchers founded in 1997. ESOF brings together scientists, policymakers, industry representatives, and the public for discussions on cutting-edge research, science policy, and societal challenges. Each edition is hosted by a different European city, serving as the “European City of Science,” and features a programme of scientific sessions, public engagement events, and policy debates. ESOF has become one of Europe’s largest interdisciplinary science forums, complementing EU research initiatives by fostering international collaboration, science communication, and public trust in science.