Greece latest country to sign ELIXIR MoU

ELIXIR MoU now has signature of 15 countries and EMBL

Hinxton, 30 January 2013 – Greece is the latest country to join ELIXIR, the pan-European undertaking to safeguard the results of life science research. The ELIXIR Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a first formal but non-binding step towards the implementation of ELIXIR. Greece is the 15th nation to demonstrate its commitment to ELIXIR through signature of the MoU.  

The purpose of ELIXIR is to construct and operate a sustainable infrastructure for biological information in Europe to support life science research and its translation to medicine and the environment, the bio-industries and society. ELIXIR will harness the strength of Europe’s current bioinformatics providers, ensuring that biological data and services being run by participating organisations are integrated in a way of most value to life science researchers. The first five pilot projects to begin this integration are already underway.    

“Joining ELIXIR is an important step for Greece. We know the value of being part of European research infrastructures – particularly when they help us maximise the benefits of investments we’ve already made. Joining ELIXIR is part of Greece’s strategy to boost R&D both in the business and academic sector,” explains Professor Babis Savakis, President and Scientific Director of the Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Centre and Greek Scientific Delegate to the ELIXIR Interim Board.

“Greece’s commitment to ELIXIR will result in tangible long-term scientific and economic benefits and its decision to join at this time, in the face of serious economic challenges, is truly impressive,” said Professor Søren Brunak of the Technical University of Denmark, Chair of the ELIXIR Interim Board. “This is an exciting time as ELIXIR now enters its implementation phase and the first technical pilot projects are underway. I look forward to Greece playing a full role in contributing to the successful operation of ELIXIR.”

Greece joins the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and 14 signatory nations; the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Further countries are expected to join ELIXIR over the coming months.

 

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