EU-LIFE Annual Report 2025: A growing and thriving community
What does it take to strengthen research excellence in Europe today? The EU-LIFE Annual Report 2025: A growing and thriving community, looks back at a year shaped by intense policy discussions, growing collaboration across institutes, and a strong collective commitment to research, innovation and scientific culture.
From the future of FP10 and research assessment reform to sustainability, research careers and innovation, the report reflects how the EU-LIFE community works together to contribute to European science — not only through policy advocacy, but also through the everyday exchange of expertise, practices and ideas across institutes.
In their foreword below, Giulio Superti-Furga, Chair of EU-LIFE and Director of CeMM, and Marta Agostinho, Executive Director of EU-LIFE, look back on a really meaningful year for EU-LIFE.
“2025 was an intense year for EU-LIFE — a year marked by growth, engagement and a renewed sense of collective purpose. As an alliance of independent life science research institutes, EU-LIFE exists to amplify the voice of excellent research in Europe. This mission has never felt more relevant than in a year where science, policy and society converged with particular intensity.
We were especially proud to welcome two outstanding institutes into the EU-LIFE community: The Francis Crick Institute and the Ruđer Bošković Institute. Their inclusion strengthens our collective ambition, geographical reach and intellectual diversity. Both institutions bring distinctive perspectives and deep expertise, reinforcing EU-LIFE as a truly pan European alliance committed to research excellence, openness and collaboration.
Throughout 2025, EU-LIFE significantly deepened its engagement in European science policy. As discussions on the future of European research funding intensified — particularly around the next Framework Programme (FP10) and the Multiannual Financial Framework — EU-LIFE stepped up its contributions with clarity and resolve. Through policy statements, joint with other leading stakeholder organisations, high level meetings and active participation in the European Research Area, we worked to ensure that excellent, discovery-driven research remains at the heart of Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and long-term prosperity — and that independent research institutes have a clear voice in policy in Europe. This policy work was not only extensive in scope but deeply rooted in the collective intelligence and experience of our member institutes and the team at the EU-LIFE office.
Equally important was the extraordinary mobilisation of the EU-LIFE community. Across working groups, task forces and events, professionals from our institutes contributed time, expertise and creativity to advance topics ranging from research assessment and careers to sustainability, research management and innovation. The alliance’s strength continues to lie in this shared commitment — a living network where policy, practice and community reinforce one another.
True to our piloting DNA, 2025 was also a year of experimentation and bold new formats. Nowhere was this more visible than in the launch of the first EU-LIFE Science Vision Talk Contest — an inspiring, creative and joyful celebration of science communication. Sometimes described as an “Eurovision of science”, the contest showcased the talent, courage and imagination of researchers across Europe, reminding us that scientific excellence and creativity go hand in hand.
As we look ahead, this report captures momentum for EU-LIFE: a growing alliance, an engaged community and a strong, credible voice in European science policy. We remain deeply grateful to everyone who contributes to making EU-LIFE what it is — and excited about what we can continue to build together.”
Read and download the EU-LIFE Annual Report 2025 here.
