The InnoMol project team has welcomed Ms Nadine Robberecht, the representative of the European Commission responsible for monitoring this project by the EU, as well as distinguished guests such as Jean-Christophe Bourdon, PhD, from the Scottish Dundee University, an expert in tumour disease research, especially p53 gene, one of the most important tumour-suppressing genes, the so-called guardian of the genome; Stephan Teglund, PhD, the representative of the Karolinska Institute Centre for Transgene Technologies, one of the largest Scandinavian academic centres for the creation of transgene organisms; Saša Frank PhD, from the University of Graz Institute for Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, an expert in the research of molecular foundations for cardiovascular conditions and atherosclerosis; Stefan Lichtenthaler, PhD, an expert for developing new diagnostic methods and new treatment approaches for neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s; Stefan Terjung PhD, from the Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, one of the biggest centres of that kind in Europe; and dr. Ulrich Zechner, an expert in the fields of genetics and epigenetics, more specifically developmental biology, embryology and the impact of in vitro fertilization on changes in genes significant for organism development.

The ceremony was opened by the welcoming speech of Oliver Vugrek, PhD, team leader of the InnoMol project and the chair of the Division of Molecular Medicine at the RBI, who has, together with his colleagues, enabled the RBI and Croatia to become a significant location on the map of 37 unique European centres with top-notch equipment for researching contemporary ailments such as tumours or neurodegenerative conditions. Following the welcoming speech, the participants and the media representatives have enjoyed the premiere of the promotional InnoMol project video.

In the second part of the meeting, Ms Nadine Robberecht has presented the EC expectations and described the EU programme for financing scientific research in the following period. This has been continued by planning activities through work tasks and discussions on strategic research, ending with the appointment of the International Supervision Body for the project. International partners have discussed the significance of developing such an innovation research infrastructure for the European Union and its member states, as well as sharing the experiences of similar national technological platforms with the goal of creating the environment favourable for the development of innovative research, diagnostic and treatment methods in combating contemporary diseases.

The organizers of this InnoMol project international meeting were the Ruđer Bošković Institute and the InnoMol project team as represented by David Smith,PhD, Maja Herak Bosnar, PhD, Marijeta Kralj, PhD, Marin Roje, PhD, Ivanka Jerić, PhD, Miroslav Plohl, PhD, Ivo Piantanida, PhD, and Igor Weber, PhD, with project leader Oliver Vugrek, PhD.

The launch of the InnoMol project has been welcomed by such distinguished guests as Dr. Tome Antičić, RBI Director General, Ms Nadine Robberecht, the European Commission representative responsible for the monitoring of this project and Mr Staša Skenžić, Director of Directorate for International Cooperation and European Integration at the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia.