25/5/2022

10th EU-LIFE Strategy Meeting is held in Helsinki

We were thrilled to finally be able to get together for the EU-LIFE Strategy Meeting 2022, held on 18-19 May and hosted by Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FiMM) in Helsinki. It was wonderful to meet in person after the long restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and it made all the difference.

Directors and main representatives of all our member institutes had the chance to get together face-to-face to identify the top priorities of the alliance and to decide the collective actions to be carried out this year. An update of the alliance activities and impact in the last year was also given by Marta Agostinho, EU-LIFE Executive Director, and Sofie Kjellerup Christensen, EU-LIFE Project & Policy Officer.

 

EU-LIFE Strategy Meeting 2022

 

The main topics considered included the latest and upcoming developments in European science policy areas such as the European Research Area, ERC or the reform of research assessment. An exchange session was organised to share how EU-LIFE institutes are responding to the challenges of attracting and promoting the careers of postdoctoral researchers.

In order to illustrate how frontier research has a real impact on health research, there were scientific talks about cutting-edge projects in Europe and beyond by Samuli Ripatti (FiMM Vice Director), Caroline Heckman (FiMM Research Director), Mika Kontro (FiMM Adjunct Professor) and Esa Pitkänen (FIMM-EMBL Group Leader). In addition, attendees visited the FiMM first-class facilities and enjoyed a guide walking tour of vibrant and beautiful Helsinki.

 

EU-LIFE Strategy Meeting 2022

 

Last but not least, we are delighted to announce that it was agreed to celebrate EU-LIFE’S 10th anniversary with a special event in June 2023. More details will be disclosed in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!