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Bulgaria becomes EMBL prospect member state
Bulgaria has joined EMBL as a prospect member state to strengthen scientific collaboration in key areas
EMBL welcomes Bulgaria as a new prospect member state, starting a three-year process toward full membership.
The prospect membership will open up new opportunities for scientific exchange and collaboration between EMBL and Bulgaria. It will support Bulgaria’s scientific community by allowing its researchers to take full advantage of EMBL’s facilities, training, and professional network, the last of which extends beyond EMBL’s six sites into its many member states and alliances.
“We are very pleased to welcome Bulgaria as a prospect member state, recognising its strengths in areas such as molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, environmental sciences, among others,” said EMBL Director General Edith Heard. “We share our excitement about the power of molecular biology in addressing global challenges and look forward to exchanging knowledge, ideas, and talent with our Bulgarian colleagues.”
“In its fiftieth year, EMBL is still growing today and, at the same time, adhering to its foundational mandate to unite Europe in its mission to pursue excellent, open, and inclusive science,” said EMBL’s Head of International Relations Plamena Markova.
Including Bulgaria, EMBL is now supported by 29 full member states, one associate member state, and two prospect member states. During the prospect membership phase, Bulgaria’s delegation will attend EMBL’s governing Council as an Observer. The country will be represented by Stoyno Stoynov, Deputy Director and Group Leader at the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Bulgarian Academy of Science, and Mikaela Stancheva, Expert, Science Directorate, Ministry of Education and Science.
“The challenges that we are facing as a community demand adequate political decision-making and swift scientific solutions, especially when it comes to the field of life sciences. The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science is very excited about Bulgaria joining EMBL as a prospect member. We believe that this is a crucial step in integrating Bulgaria’s rapidly evolving molecular and cell biology community within the European research area,” said Professor Galin Tsokov, the Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria. “Through excellence in life sciences, we will be able to contribute to socially significant goals such as increasing the quality of life, providing better healthcare, and fostering economic growth. The Ministry is committed to continuing its support for Bulgarian science and firmly believes that Bulgaria joining EMBL will be a catalyst for scientific collaboration and innovation in the field of life sciences.”
“Joining EMBL is a milestone for the Bulgarian molecular and cell biology community,” said Stoyno Stoynov, deputy director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Bulgarian delegate at the EMBL council meeting. “Gaining access to the unique EMBL network of research institutes and facilities, which harbour more than 110 research groups, would transform molecular biology in Bulgaria, providing unmatched opportunities for collaboration, exchange of ideas, and training of talented researchers from Bulgaria.”
