EMBL Imaging Centre.
In 2021, the Imaging Centre at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg opened. This unique one-stop-centre for all microscopy needs offers scientists from all over the world access to and training on the most advanced imaging technologies.
Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung first committed in 2017 to support the EMBL Imaging Centre with EUR 5 million over a period of 10 years, in order to help fund its operations and, in particular, to support the training and work of scientists using the highly complex microscopes.
Financed by the German federal government, the state government of Baden-Wuerttemberg, and industry partners, the building of the new centre was constructed and equipped with the latest microscopes between 2018 and 2021. In September 2021, the EMBL Imaging Centre opened its doors for the first time to external scientists.
Second round of funding continues the success story
From its inception, the EMBL’s Imaging Centre has established itself as a leading international user centre for cutting-edge microscopy technologies, meeting previously unmet needs of the European scientific community. With the first funding from Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung, EMBL hired highly qualified staff for two service teams in electron and light microscopy. Today, these staff provide training and support to international scientists who visit the EMBL Imaging Centre to get hands-on experience and training on the latest imaging technologies.
Since opening its doors until December 2024, its service teams have supported more than 290 projects and training sessions for scientists from 27 countries at over 120 scientific institutions, far exceeding the originally planned operational scope.
The EMBL Imaging Centre has pioneered open access to groundbreaking new technologies such as MINFLUX and in situ cryo-electron tomography. Following the highly successful launch of the centre and in light of the new scientific opportunities arising from rapidly evolving technologies, numerous new perspectives are emerging.
To enable EMBL to build on the Imaging Centre's success story, Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung has decided in 2025 to provide a second round of funding: With 7 million EUR over a period of 6 years, EMBL can expand its service team at the Imaging Centre and, by building on the thus gained expertise, strengthen its position as internationally leading service centre in cutting-edge and highly specialised imaging technologies.
EMBL - a world-leading research institute
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is among the world’s foremost research institutes. This applies, among other things, to its work in developing microscopy and imaging technologies. One of its core tasks is to provide know-how and teach techniques to visiting scientists from around the globe within the scope of cooperative arrangements and courses, and as a service. In addition to its main laboratory in Heidelberg, the EMBL maintains facilities at the European Bioinformatics Institute in Hinxton, UK, as well as in Grenoble, France; Hamburg, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Rome, Italy. EMBL is an intergovernmental organisation with 29 member states, one associate member, and one prospective member.