Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1984-2001 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
7 boxes of paper material.
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
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.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Materials related to the EBNIC program proposed and coordinated by EMBO from 1984-2001.
Towards the end of the 90s, EMBO decided to expand the geographical range of its activities, as a means of developing relationships between European scientists and their peers outside of the EMBO area. With China’s inclusion as a partner in the development of the 5th European Framework Programme, and with what the EMBO council considered to be EMBO’s insufficient attention to the area of Biotechnology, EMBO decided to initiate the EBNIC program. EBNIC began its operations in February 1998, funded by the EU-INCO (international cooperation program). Initially funded for 3 years, it represented an effort to promote wider interest among European academic and industrial biotechnologists in working with their Chinese counterparts.
Both a European and Chinese management team were established to oversee activities and define the mission of the program. Frank Gannon acted as coordinator. A start-up meeting of the management group was held in mid-February 1998 in Brussels, during which the date, venue, and draft agenda for the first annual meeting of the European Node were agreed upon during this meeting. The topics to concentrate on were chosen based on the relevant findings of the DGXII representatives in the mission that visited China in preparation of the EU-China Science & Technology Cooperation Agreement established in 1998.
The first general meeting of EBNIC was held on 27th April 1998 in Heidelberg. The results of this meeting were the enlargement of the management group, and the selection of topics for joint workshops.
At a later meeting, on the 15th of June 1998 in Beijing, these topics were finalized, and workshops on “Diagnostics today and tomorrow” and “host-pathogen interactions” were held in November 1998 in China and January 1999 in Italy, respectively.
Subsequent workshops, lectures, and scientific visits were organized under EBNIC’s program, a website hosting a database of potential collaborators was established, and annual meetings of interested European scientists and industries were held.
At the end of the 3-year program, funding for EBNIC-2, intended to be EBNIC’s successor, was not accepted and the program was terminated. However, EMBO subsequently set up its World Programme (now Global Activities), to continue its work building collaboration between European scientists and external partners.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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These materials are arranged at the collection level.
Conditions of access and use area
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Certain materials may be available online. Others can be made accessible to registered researchers subject to an approved access request. Visitors must fill out a request form and sign the Archives Access Terms and Conditions.