The Euro-BioImaging ERIC is expected to have a significant impact on the European Research Area as a whole. By harmonizing existing and future imaging infrastructures across different Member States, the ERIC will make sure no country falls behind in the rapid development of imaging technologies and their application in the life sciences. EuBI is expected to foster commitment across Europe at the Member State level to ensure long-term engagement and financial support to national imaging infrastructures. In fact, national support has grown continuously since 2008, with currently 26 national imaging communities forming national networks and mobilizing investments.
It is also foreseen that the technology development activities and scientific collaborations that will take place at the EuBI Nodes will create a highly innovative environment, allowing new products, instrumentation and start-up companies to be created. In this regard, EuBI has already leveraged on the existence of an Industry Board, that brings together 12 imaging companies (Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Hamamatsu, Zeiss, LIS, PCO, Thermo-Fisher, Fujifilm, Fluidigm, Greiner Bio-One, Acquifer) to function as a collaboration platform between the imaging industry and the wider EuBI community.
Finally, at the international level, EuBI is a partner in the EMBL-coordinated Global BioImaging network, which allows close collaboration with international imaging infrastructure partners to build common services, especially in image data and training. This network will allow the future ERIC to collaborate with imaging communities in Argentina, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa and the USA, exchanging experiences and best practice on all topics related to imaging infrastructure operation.
