International Cooperation

European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)

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, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The creation of this Laboratory emerges from the idea by 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, then heavily dominated by the USA.

On this page you can consult information about:

History and missions of the EMBL
Technological internships at EMBL
Industrial relations

History and missions of the EMBL

Relevant documents

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 of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) with EMBO and EMBC.

The number of member countries has gradually increased to 27: 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) and Lithuania (2019).

In addition to these countries, EMBL includes Australia as participant with associated country status and Estonia and Latvia as participants with candidate country status.

Portugal joined EMBL in 1998, and over time has been participating and getting involved in the activities at the heart of the EMBL's missions.

EMBL is, today, the leading European laboratory for basic research in molecular biology and has its headquarters and main laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. It also has five sites in Hinxton (the European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI), Grenoble, Hamburg, Rome (Monterotondo) and Barcelona. EMBL attracts to these six sites both young researchers and established scientists from around the world.

With around 1800 people working in six locations across Europe, some 700 publications are produced each year and events and conferences at the forefront of biological research are organized.

This infrastructure, established to promote molecular biology across Europe and create a center of excellence for top-level training in Europe, pursues five missions:

Carry out fundamental research in molecular biology;
Provide vital services to scientists, in member countries and worldwide;
Train scientists, students and visitors at all levels;
Actively participate in technology transfer and relations with industry;
Coordinate and integrate European research in life sciences.

Find out more about these missions on the EMBL website.

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 grants awarded by FCT. The protocol was renewed in September 2020.

Under this protocol, FCT is responsible for implementing the internship programme, selecting candidates and monitoring the work developed by the interns.

The internships, lasting a minimum of one year with the possibility of renewal for another year, are selected by technological domains, with special attention given to the project, the training framework and the future insertion of the interns in innovation-oriented Portuguese companies.

Find out more information, such as the eligibility conditions and submission of applications, about the technology internships programme at EMBL.

Industrial relations

EMBL employs some of Europe's best researchers, bringing together biologists, engineers, information technology professionals and numerous other scientific specializations. Moreover, EMBL research has many practical and industrial applications.

The entrepreneurial spirit of EMBL is materialized through technology transfer programmes and technological spin-offs.

Get to know the various EMBL programmes geared towards the industry area.