EMBL enthusiastically supports other organisations in their attempts to promote internationalism and the advancement of molecular and cell biology.
EMBO: The European Molecular Biology Organisation has had administrative offices at our main Laboratory in Heidelberg since 1974. It is separately funded from EMBL and maintains complete administrative independence. EMBO and EMBL's histories are nevertheless closely intertwined. In 1963, A group of preeminent European molecular biologists created EMBO to facilitate the establishment of an international laboratory for molecular biology. As an interim measure, EMBO created a system of research fellowships, courses and symposia in the field of molecular biology. The EMBO fellowships and courses proved to be an immediate success, providing European scientists with scientific independence, mobility and the new skills to exploit the former. Since then, EMBO's efforts have been instrumental in establishing molecular biology in Europe and have been supported by a growing number of countries (currently 21). EMBO and the laboratory project became separate legal identities in 1969. Goals and supporters of both organisations, however, have always largely overlapped and for over 20 years both organisations have collaborate closely, especially relating to the special courses and symposia.