Collaborating Across Continents: Australian and European Health and Life Sciences Research Infrastructure Symposium

In September, leaders from across Australia and Europe gathered at Monash University’s Prato campus in Italy for the Australian and European Health & Life Sciences Research Infrastructure Symposium.

This landmark event brought together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the future of research infrastructure in health and life sciences, with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.

The symposium,  featured a diverse programme, including sessions on AI in health and life sciences, industry and community drivers for distributed research infrastructures, and strengthening the international dimension of research infrastructures on the ESFRI roadmap. Participants left with renewed connections, shared insights, and a collective commitment to advancing impactful, sustainable research infrastructure.

NCRIS was well represented at the symposium, with key projects including Microscopy Australia, Bioplatforms Australia, National Imaging Facility, Therapeutic Innovation Australia, Phenomics Australia, Population Health Research Network, and Australian BioCommons all making important contributions.

EuroBioImaging Directors John Eriksson, Linda Chaabane, and Antje Keppler alongside Australian colleagues Ian Smith, Lisa Yen and Wojtek Goscinski

Microscopy Australia was represented by our CEO, Dr Lisa Yen, who led a panel on Training and Workforce Development, highlighting the critical importance of skilled talent in sustaining and advancing research infrastructure. She also contributed her expertise to a panel on Leadership, Policy, and Sustainability, joining international colleagues to address the challenges and opportunities facing research infrastructure into the future. These discussions were central to shaping the symposium’s outcomes, which included scoping a joint programme of works for international cooperation and setting the stage for ongoing collaboration between Australian and European partners.

Microscopy Australia extends its thanks to the organising committee including Ian Smith (EMBL Australia and PHRN), Antje Keppler (ERIC Forum), Merran Smith (PHRN), Michael Raess (INFRAFRONTIER), Jana Pavlic-Zupanc (BBMRI-ERIC), Johanna Kostenzer (BBMRI-ERIC), Andrew Gilbert (Bioplatforms Australia), Annette Wittmann (EMBL Australia) and all participants for facilitating such a valuable and productive event.