Alliance4Life Members Engage with Global Core Facility Community at CTLS 2025 Congress in Brno
Behind every scientific breakthrough is a team of experts operating state-of-the-art technologies, maintaining complex infrastructure, and enabling high-quality research. These professionals—working in core facilities and research infrastructures—were in the spotlight at CTLS 2025, the international congress of the Core Technologies for Life Sciences association, supported by Alliance4Life and held this June in Brno, Czech Republic.
The event brought together over 250 participants from 25 countries, including research institutions, industry, and infrastructure networks. Alliance4Life was well represented, particularly through members of the Core Facilities Focus Group, who used the congress as an opportunity to learn, connect, and bring back new ideas to strengthen core facility operations across Central and Eastern Europe.
Hosted by CEITEC Masaryk University, one of the founding members of Alliance4Life, the congress addressed key topics such as:
- Sustainable management of core facilities
- Talent development and professional training
- Integration of new technologies and data management aligned with EOSC standards
- Collaboration with industry and innovation ecosystems
These discussions align closely with Alliance4Life’s mission to raise standards and foster excellence in research support services, particularly in regions that have historically had fewer opportunities for international peer exchange.
Members of the Alliance4Life Core Facilities Focus Group attended a wide range of talks and workshops, exchanging best practices and gaining inspiration to bring back to their institutions. Their participation also contributed to increasing the visibility of excellence emerging from the Central and Eastern European region, a priority shared by both CTLS and Alliance4Life.
The congress was also an emotional tribute to CTLS founder Spencer Shorter, whose vision of a collaborative and inclusive professional community continues to resonate across the field.
CTLS 2025 confirmed that core facilities are not just service units—they are drivers of innovation and scientific progress. The event also demonstrated that regions beyond traditional scientific powerhouses—like many Alliance4Life member countries—are increasingly taking on leadership roles in shaping the future of research infrastructures in Europe.
Alliance4Life congratulates the Chair of Core Facilities Focus Group Kateřina Hošková and the organising team at CEITEC and looks forward to continued collaboration with the CTLS community. These connections are vital for ensuring that scientific excellence is supported by professional, well-networked, and future-oriented infrastructure teams across Europe.
