Shaping the road ahead: EU-LIFE Strategy Meeting 2025 in Basel

Last week, directors and main representatives from EU-LIFE’s 17 member institutes gathered in Basel (Switzerland) for the 2025 EU-LIFE Strategy Meeting, hosted by the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI). The excellent organisation led by Nicolas Favre, EU-LIFE’s main representative at FMI, and Dirk Schübeler, Scientific Director of FMI, played a key role in fostering a welcoming environment for productive, forward-looking discussions.

From the very beginning, the Strategy group conveyed strong collective support for EU-LIFE’s work, acknowledging both the progress made in recent years and the increasing visibility and impact of the alliance in the European research landscape. The meeting provided a valuable space to reflect together on shared priorities, exchange perspectives and reaffirm the common purpose that drives EU-LIFE.

Over two days, discussion centred on key areas shaping the alliance’s future, including upcoming European policy developments and initiatives to strengthen research excellence across member institutes. These exchanges demonstrated not only a clear alignment on strategic direction but also a renewed enthusiasm to advance EU-LIFE’s mission collectively.

“The energy in Basel was inspiring. The openness, trust and shared commitment we felt throughout the meeting show how far EU-LIFE has come as an alliance. When we think and work together in this way, our collective impact grows — for our institutes, for researchers and for European science,” said Marta Agostinho, Executive Director of EU-LIFE.

The positive dynamic of the meeting was further reinforced by valuable conversations beyond the formal sessions, notably during a visit to the Novartis Pavillon and a collegial dinner, which helped deepen existing connections and strengthen our shared sense of purpose as a cohesive and forward-thinking community.