The future of science is built on networks, not laboratories
More often than not, life science innovation depends on decades of international collaboration, shared infrastructure and open exchange of data, Plamena Markova, Head of International Relations at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), tells Dr Kevin Robinson
Scientific breakthroughs are often associated with extraordinary individuals, landmark discoveries or Nobel Prizes. Yet behind almost every major advance in the life sciences lies something far less visible: decades of international collaboration, shared infrastructure, open data and networks of researchers working across borders. According toMarkova(pictured), this collaborative model is no longer simply beneficial;it has become essential. As scientific questions grow more complex and technologies more demanding, excellence increasingly depends not on the capabilities of individual laboratories, but on the strength of international scientific ecosystems. “Science is fundamentally a collaborative endeavour. In biology, the life sciences and many other disciplines, science does not happen in a single laboratory … even if it starts as an idea in the mind of a single individual. It is built onsharing knowledge, data and ideas,” Markova says. She argues that scientific discoveries mature through exchanges with researchers, collaborative projects and shared expertise — processes that often unfold for many years before their impact on society becomes visible. Not yet aSubscriber?This is a small extract of the full article which is availableONLYto premium content subscribers. Click below to get premium content on Manufacturing Chemist. Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?Sign in here.