Science that changes the world is never done in isolation! Behind every breakthrough are tens of thousands of professionals working in Core Facilities – shared laboratories, technology platforms and research infrastructures that connect advanced technologies with human expertise. These vital professionals took centre stage at the CTLS 2025 international congress, held this June in Brno – a city celebrated as a thriving innovation hub and one of the global leaders in electron microscopy. Over 250 professionals from research infrastructures, core facilities and industry across 25 countries converged at the CTLS 2025 Congress – an inspiring gathering hosted by CEITEC Masaryk University under the auspices of the CTLS association (Core Technologies for Life Sciences). The event offered an open platform to discuss the pressing issues affecting the field – from sustainable management of core facilities and talent development to the integration of new technologies, innovation in core facilities and industry engagement. A particularly prominent topic was data management aligned with EOSC standards, which poses specific challenges for life science infrastructures dealing with sensitive data. The congress reaffirmed that cutting-edge research cannot function without high-quality infrastructure. In an era where the development of new therapies, diagnostics, and materials increasingly depends on interdisciplinary collaboration and technological precision, core facilities stand at the very heart of scientific advancement. This makes cross-institutional and cross-border knowledge exchange all the more critical – a mission that CTLS actively fulfils. Importantly, the CTLS community brings together not only facility heads and managers, but also technical and scientific staff, researchers, and administrators across all disciplines. The professional programme featured dozens of lectures and discussions – from hands-on management case studies to strategic reflections on innovation. A powerful message echoed throughout the congress: innovation thrives when it addresses real-world needs. Equally compelling were the in-depth discussions on professional development and targeted education and training for core facility staff – critical pillars for ensuring long-term sustainability, service excellence, and the continued advancement of life science research. CTLS 2025 also introduced new formats, such as a kick-off networking session designed to create an open and inclusive atmosphere right from the start. “Our aim was to make everyone feel welcome, to encourage people to ask questions and make connections across disciplines. I believe it had a very positive impact on the event overall, especially during the panel discussions – this new approach really worked,” said lead organiser Kateřina Hošková from CEITEC Masaryk University. The final open mic session gave participants the opportunity to share challenges and good practices directly from the floor, creating space for spontaneous and honest dialogue. Alongside the official programme, CTLS 2025 offered plenty of informal networking opportunities, including a gala dinner held at the historic Augustinian Abbey, complete with tours of Mendel’s Museum and the Basilica. The event also served as a tribute to Spencer Shorter, founder of CTLS, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. His vision of an open, supportive, and collaborative professional community was felt throughout the programme and became a silent leitmotif of the entire congress. “CTLS brings together the people who make cutting-edge research a reality. If you’re looking for a community where you can exchange experiences, grow professionally, and help shape the future of our field, then CTLS is the place for you,” said Julia Fernandez-Rodriguez, President of the CTLS Association. The Brno congress reaffirmed a powerful truth: core facilities are far more than support services – they are essential drivers of scientific progress. It also showcased that Europe, including regions beyond the traditional scientific hubs, has both the ambition and the capability to lead the way in this vital field. The CTLS congress is held every two years in a different host country, aiming to activate local communities, raise the visibility of core facility topics, and build regional, national, and international networks. With its well-developed system of large research infrastructures, the Czech Republic is well positioned to lead by example. The next CTLS congress will take place in Milan in 2027, but the opportunities for collaboration and exchange continue all year round – both online and through the growing CTLS membership, which remains open to new professionals from across the life sciences infrastructure landscape. Source: CEITEC MUNI
On May 21–22, 2025, Brno hosted the international conference Research Data Day & EOSC National Tripartite Event, bringing together leading figures of European research, data science experts, representatives of research infrastructures, and science policy makers. The two-day programme—featuring lectures, panel discussions, expert workshops, and networking opportunities—attracted over 200 participants from 40 institutions across the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Finland, and other European countries, both in person and online. The conference created a space to share current insights on research data management, the operation of research infrastructures, and the use of artificial intelligence in science, especially in the context of data. A special focus was placed on “data ready for AI”—exploring how to prepare research data for AI systems while aligning with the FAIR principles. Progress in implementing the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) initiative was also highlighted. Research Infrastructures and Scientific Data as Pillars of European Science The conference opened with welcoming addresses by Šárka Pospíšilová (Vice-Rector for Research at Masaryk University), Luděk Matyska (Chair of the EOSC-CZ Steering Committee and Principal Investigator of the NRP project for research data), and Jan Hrušák (Vice-Chair of the EOSC Steering Board and member of the ESFRI Executive Board), who also moderated the policy section “Shaping the Future of EOSC“. This segment provided a platform to discuss national engagement in European EOSC structures and the Czech Republic’s role in shaping European open science policy. “The ecosystem of European infrastructures is rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly complex—from research and technology infrastructures to e-infrastructures, data spaces, and AI Factories. To ensure effective collaboration and alignment with national policies, it will be essential to establish a coordinating framework at the EU level, enabling strategic direction within the European Research Area beyond 2027,” summarized Jan Hrušák. The discussion focused on funding, governance, and the architecture of EOSC in the upcoming Framework Programme (FP10), the interconnection of national and thematic nodes, and the transferability of the Czech coordination model to the European level. Perspectives were shared by Lucie Núñez Tayupanta (MEYS), Luděk Matyska (CESNET, MU), Matej Antol (MU), Yannis Rodopoulos (European Commission), and Kamran Naim (CERN, EOSC Association). Together, they emphasized the need for long-term sustainability, strategic governance, and deeper integration of science policies across countries and sectors. “EOSC can be understood as a meta-infrastructure whose main value lies in its ability to support collaboration across scientific disciplines and research infrastructures. The true success of EOSC will depend on whether it can effectively connect these cross-community activities and establish a functional framework for managing and sharing data and knowledge,” noted Luděk Matyska. The panel offered unique perspectives on the future of EOSC post-2027 from the vantage points of the European Commission, the EOSC Association, and Czech institutions actively involved in implementing open science priorities. Innovation and the European Perspective on Data and Infrastructures One of the keynote speakers on research infrastructures was Jana Klánová (Director of RECETOX, Faculty of Science, MU), who addressed the significant challenges of researching the human exposome. “One of the greatest challenges in the interdisciplinary field of human exposome research—besides the need for innovative technologies and data harmonization—is human capacity. We need experts who can not only intellectually connect research domains, but also combine scientific and managerial competencies, and who have the courage to engage in long-term interdisciplinary projects that do not deliver quick results. We must invest in data quality from the very beginning of data collection and agree on how data will be integrated across domains. This requires not only building adequate data infrastructure but also raising awareness of emerging research directions and their demands for long-term data quality and interoperability,” said Jana Klánová. Jan Hajič (Charles University) explored the role of large language models in open science at the European level. Other experts continued the discussion on research infrastructures as key pillars of EOSC across various disciplines—from physics and social sciences to archaeology and bioinformatics. Patrik Čechvala from the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences presented how multi-messenger experiments contribute to our understanding of the universe, while Ilona Trtíková from the Czech Social Science Data Archive (CSDA) emphasized the importance of humanities and social sciences in data-driven research. Stefan Voigt from the Open Search Foundation spoke in his lecture about how Europe can regain web sovereignty through an open and federated infrastructure for search, analytics, and AI. Artificial Intelligence and Data in Practice The second day of the conference focused on the use of artificial intelligence in research and the development of European AI sovereignty. Vladimír Petrík (CTU) presented on European open-source foundation models within the ELLIOT project, while Markus Koskela (CSC – IT Center for Science, Finland) introduced the LUMI AI Factory—one of Europe’s most powerful AI infrastructures. Practical applications of AI in science were showcased by Tomáš Brázdil (MU), who spoke about digital pathology, and Saltuk Eyrilmez (MU), who demonstrated data generation for drug development using quantum mechanics. Additional presentations covered topics such as bioimaging, materials design, and support for FAIR data practices. Vladimír Ulman (MU and IT4Innovations), within the MIFA project, highlighted the crucial role of accessible infrastructure in AI development: “To develop powerful and versatile AI methods for bioimage analysis, we need large, diverse, and well-annotated datasets. This requires time, effort, and investment. Infrastructure plays a vital role—without FAIR repositories and high-performance computing resources, such as those available through EOSC, creating these AI methods will be very difficult.“ Connecting Communities and Sharing Know-How The closing part of the conference offered parallel practical workshops, including hands-on training on FAIR data, tools, and software. A closed session allowed members of the National Repository Platform (NRP) to share experiences. The conference demonstrated the growing importance of research data, open science, and international collaboration for the future of scientific discovery. It reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s position as an active partner in the European EOSC initiative—contributing not only expert knowledge but also a functional model linking policies, infrastructures, and research communities. The full program, speaker presentations, and video recording of the conference will be available on the conference website. Source: Press release EOSC-CZ Author: Lucie Skřičková
This year, Czech-BioImaging is celebrating its 10th Anniversary, marking a decade of providing open access to cutting-edge imaging technologies to enhance scientific research in the Czech Republic and internationally. Over the past ten years, we have helped advance biological and medical imaging, supporting thousands of researchers and fostering innovations across a variety of research areas. A Decade of Innovation and Impact Since its establishment, Czech-BioImaging has become a leader in providing access to state-of-the-art imaging facilities in the Czech Republic. With 16 imaging facilities and partnerships with 10 institutions, we annually serve more than 1,300 researchers. “Thanks to our data, researchers publish over 200 scientific papers annually,” says Pavel Hozák, Director of Czech-BioImaging. “We offer a broad range of imaging methods and provide access to more than 200 specialized instruments, which are also available to international users through the European infrastructure Euro-BioImaging ERIC.” Special 10th Anniversary Event To mark this significant milestone, a special meeting took place on March 18, 2025, at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. The workshop titled “Long-term Sustainability of Research Infrastructures”, brought together key representatives from Czech-BioImaging, Euro-BioImaging, and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic. The workshop focused on the long-term sustainability of large research infrastructures, ensuring that these resources continue to benefit future generations of researchers and advance scientific discovery. Following the workshop, an evening program was held at Jazz Dock in Prague, providing an opportunity for networking and informal discussions among experts and stakeholders in the bioimaging field. Looking Ahead: Imaging Principles of Life Conference 2025 As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Imaging Principles of Life Conference 2025 will feature a special program to honor Czech-BioImaging’s 10 years of success. This event will offer presentations, discussions, and insights into the future of bioimaging technologies, and it will be a fantastic opportunity for collaboration, networking, and innovation. Join Us in Celebrating We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement. Registration opens soon. For more details visit https://www.czech-bioimaging.cz/conference/