Top stories of 2025: A year of growth, advocacy and community
As we look back on 2025, EU-LIFE reflects on a year marked by strategic growth, strong policy engagement, and renewed commitment to supporting researchers across Europe. Here are the standout stories that defined EU-LIFE in 2025!
1. Launch of the EU-LIFE Postdoctoral Exchange Programme
In February, the newly formed EU-LIFE Postdoc Initiative officially launched the Postdoctoral Exchange Programme, a flagship activity designed to foster mobility, networking and visibility for postdoctoral researchers within the alliance. The programme offers postdocs the opportunity to present their work at leading EU-LIFE institutes, helping them build international research ties and enhance their career prospects — a significant step in nurturing Europe’s next generation of scientific leaders.
Read the full story here.
2. Welcoming the Crick and the RBI to EU-LIFE
2025 marked an important moment of growth for EU-LIFE as The Francis Crick Institute (UK) and the Ruđer Bošković Institute (Croatia) joined the alliance. This welcome broadens EU-LIFE’s reach to 17 member institutes across 16 countries and strengthens its voice in championing world-class, investigator-driven life sciences research throughout Europe.
Read the full story here.
3. Reflections on the MCAA Annual Conference
EU-LIFE’s engagement with the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) was highlighted through a blog reflecting on the 2025 Annual Conference in Kraków. The piece, authored by EU-LIFE Policy Officer Iris Uribesalgo, captured discussions on research careers, supervision, open science and international collaboration, while underlining the value of community-driven spaces for shaping the future of European research.
Read the full story here.
4. Reaction to the EU’s MFF proposal
In July, EU-LIFE released an open letter responding to the European Commission’s proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, urging policymakers to reinforce Research & Innovation as a central pillar of Europe’s competitiveness. The reaction highlighted the need for ambitious funding, strong governance, and the protection of investigator-led science — reinforcing the alliance’s commitment to a vibrant, forward-looking research ecosystem.
Read the full story here.
5. Reaffirming the bottom-up nature of MSCA
Together with other leading European research organisations, EU-LIFE issued a joint statement opposing the introduction of directionality in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The statement emphasised the value of MSCA’s bottom-up, open approach in driving innovation and supporting diverse research careers, urging policymakers to preserve its foundational principles.
Read the full story here.
6. Eleonore Ocaña wins the EU-LIFE Science Vision Talk Contest
EU-LIFE celebrated creativity and scientific excellence by spotlighting Eleonore Ocaña, winner of the EU-LIFE Science Vision Talk Contest 2025. Eleonore shared in an interview her innovative approach to communicating research, including her now well-known rap on optogenetics, and reflected on her scientific journey as a PhD researcher.
Read the full story here.
Looking forward to another year of collaboration, scientific excellence and shared achievements!
