Research infrastructures (RIs) are nationally funded facilities that provide everything scientists need to foster innovation, produce knowledge, and make new discoveries. This includes top-notch facilities, services and technologies to accelerate scientific achievements and innovation. By pooling these resources, they remove barriers to limited access and create the best conditions needed for impactful advanced research, enabling scientists to make discoveries efficiently. RIs ensure science is driven by excellence and offer stronger long-term impact to advance knowledge and foster technological progress. Learn more. 

The European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) is a pan-European research infrastructure (RI) dedicated to advancing the understanding of marine life and harnessing its potential to create a sustainable future for the billions of people who rely on our ocean. Made up of a network of marine sites and research organisations, EMBRC is Europe’s only RI for marine biology and ecology research that provides access to coastal ecosystems, organisms and services to support academic and industry scientists. Discover more. 

EMBRC is currently made up of 10 member countries across Europe: Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Collectively, these members can facilitate in-situ or remote access to a diverse range of coastal ecosystems from the Arctic to the Red Sea, each with their own characteristics and biodiversity. Find out more. 

EMBRC offers services and expertise to help academia and industry advance the understanding of marine life. This includes remote and in-situ access to unique ecosystems and biodiversity across Europe through field sampling, biobanks, and culture collections. We facilitate access to data, experimental facilities (such as aquaria and tanks, mesocosms, dry and wet labs, and climate-controlled rooms), technology platforms (e.g. imaging, bioprospecting, genomics, transcriptomics, high pressure liquid chromatography, remote sensing, and telemetry), and equipment (research vessels, sensors, underwater vehicles, and marine robotics). We also provide tailored marine-related training to help the future generation of ocean scientists and Blue Economy workers reach their full potential. 

Our services help researchers overcome traditional barriers in conducting their research—such as budget or logistical restrictions—and help them speed up scientific discoveries. Researchers or organisations can apply for EMBRC’s support via our online service catalogue. Explore more. 

The European Commission defines a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) as “a specific legal form that facilitates the establishment and operation of Research Infrastructures with European interest”. This legal framework is recognised in all EU countries. It supports scientific development by helping countries collaborate on research through sharing funding, facilities, services, and expertise.  

EMBRC’s ERIC status ensures the RI is sustainable in the long-term, has high-level political support, and can attract the best scientists, engineers, technicians, and managers. Being an ERIC supports the advancement of marine research across the EMBRC network, improves the speed and quality of discoveries, and allows scientific innovation to thrive. Learn more. 

The European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Network (EMO BON) is Europe’s first centrally coordinated, long-term genomic marine biodiversity observatory. The project is part of OBON (Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network): a UN Ocean Decade endorsed programme that is helping us understand ocean life by analysing biomolecules.  

EMO BON brings together decades of knowledge under one network by connecting 16 independent marine sites from eight European countries to analyse marine biological samples and learn how ecosystems are changing over time. The project uses eDNA methods to  generate comprehensive datasets that enhance global ocean observation, improve marine biodiversity monitoring, and fill the knowledge gap that existed for ocean health. Read more. 

Throughout our work, we are dedicated to promoting Open Science by following inclusive, global standards and using Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data. Following these principles ensures datasets generated by EMBRC projects are:  

• Findable: easy for both humans and computers to find. This is often achieved by giving the data a unique identifier and clearly describing it in any metadata 

• Accessible: once found, the user can easily access the data, even when the original dataset is no longer available 

• Interoperable: it can be integrated with other datasets and workflows 

• Reusable: described well enough that it can be reused and replicated by other researchers 

Integrating FAIR data principles throughout our work gives marine biodiversity research a longer lifetime. Discover more. 

Marine data helps us understand the biological make-up of ocean ecosystems, what keeps them healthy, and how to protect them from human pressures. Generating and analysing global marine biological data over sustained periods helps us see patterns and spot changes before they become problems. Learning how ocean ecosystems resist environmental threats can also inspire sustainability solutions. Marine biological data provides robust evidence for academia, the private sector, policymakers, and international organisations. This ensures decisions on how to manage marine ecosystems effectively, use the ocean’s resources sustainably, and ensure a just transition towards a Blue bioeconomy are science-based. Learn more. 

EMBRC’s researchers are always striving to advance knowledge of marine life and discover more about the ocean. In 2024, researchers from EMBRC’s pan-European network published 185 papers in 80 different journals. Scientists have made many discoveries, including that sea spiders can regrow their hind body after removal, repeated heatwaves can disrupt ocean nutrient cycles, and seasonal changes in food availability predict marine biodiversity better than temperature or overall food levels. Discover an example.