The kick-off meeting of the renewed Euro-BioImaging Finland was held on 4th April at the University of Helsinki. (Image: Euro-BioImaging Finland)
On April 4th, 2025, Euro-BioImaging Finland held its official Kick-off Meeting at Biomedicum, Helsinki, celebrating the newly awarded 28 million euros in national infrastructure funding and the prestigious “Lighthouse” status on the Finnish Research Infrastructure Roadmap 2025–2028. Euro-BioImaging Finland was chosen as one of six Finland’s highest quality infrastructures, so-called lighthouses – forerunners with broad societal impact. With this record funding granted by the Research Council of Finland, Euro-BioImaging Finland will develop new imaging technologies and services, and new methods based on artificial intelligence. Read the Research Council of Finland press release here, and the Euro-BioImaging interview highlighting Euro-BioImaging Finland’s success story via link.
The Kick-off meeting brought together key members from the Finnish Advanced Microscopy (FiAM) and Finnish Biomedical Imaging (FiBI) Nodes. The meeting focused on open discussion, emphasizing collaboration, strategic planning, and community-building. Irina Belaia and Tiina Saanijoki introduced the FiAM and FiBI Nodes and their respective focus areas, setting the tone for an engaging round table where the participants from all imaging units from seven universities and three university hospitals introduced themselves and their roles.
Pasi Kankaanpää, the Director of Euro-BioImaging Finland, led the next discussion about the record FIRI funding—its allocation, usage, and reporting, as well as shared priorities such as equipment investment, salary support, data management, and user services. The group also explored opportunities for joint efforts between biological and biomedical imaging communities.
Pasi Kankaanpää, the Director of Euro-BioImaging Finland, is presenting at the kick-Off meeting (Image: Irina Belaia)
Participants enjoyed a celebratory cake and coffee break before hearing Euro-BioImaging ERIC greetings and updates from John Eriksson and Jiri Finda, including insights into node evaluations, new funding opportunities for users, and opportunities for Nodes staff through EVOLVE project.
The latter part of the meeting tackled practical topics such as service portfolio development, national collaboration, pricing policies, training, and outreach. In a forward-looking session, participants discussed long-term strategies to maintain momentum, address future bottlenecks, and enhance national and European visibility.
The meeting closed with a strong sense of shared purpose and excitement for what lies ahead. With renewed funding and strengthened partnerships, Euro-BioImaging Finland is ready to support and serve its users at the highest level.
The meeting was organized with the help of Elnaz Fazeli, imaging specialist at Biomeducim Imaging Unit (BIU) facilities, who was also so kind and gave a quick tour showcasing the imaging facilities in Biomedicum (see the image: Kirstin Vonderstein, Elnaz Fazeli, and Mikko Liljeström). It was very nice to see the BIU’s facility capabilities and cutting-edge microscopes.
