Euro-BioImaging joins Canadian scientific platform community for CNSP 10th anniversary meeting in Ottawa

Euro-BioImaging, represented by Antje Keppler, Director or the Euro-BioImaging Bio-Hub,  was delighted to join the Canadian Network of Scientific Platforms (CNSP-RCPS) for its 2026 Scientific Platform Meeting, held from 9–11 June at the University of Ottawa, Canada. This year’s meeting marked the 10th anniversary of CNSP and was organised under the theme “Building on Our Foundation for Discovery and Innovation.”

The meeting brought together scientific platform professionals, research infrastructure leaders, funders, institutional representatives and industry stakeholders from across Canada and beyond. Over three days, participants exchanged experience on the future of scientific platforms, the role of expert platform staff, sustainable funding, stakeholder engagement, innovation, and the value proposition of shared research facilities.

A network of Canadian scientific platform professionals

CNSP is a pan-Canadian network of professionals working in academic scientific platforms, including technology resources, core facilities, platform management and specialised services. Its activities are closely aligned with many of the priorities shared by Euro-BioImaging and the wider international bioimaging community: promoting open access to advanced technologies, strengthening the role and recognition of platform scientists, supporting best practices in facility operation, and building national and international connections.

Sharing experience from Euro-BioImaging ERIC

Antje Keppler was invited to give a keynote lecture on “Lessons Learned from European Research Infrastructure Consortia.” The presentation introduced the ERIC model as a European approach to organising long-term, cross-border research infrastructures and highlighted Euro-BioImaging’s experience as a distributed infrastructure for open access to biological and biomedical imaging technologies, expert technical support, image data services and training.

Drawing on Euro-BioImaging’s development since becoming an ERIC in 2019, the keynote focused on how distributed infrastructures can add value beyond the sum of their individual facilities. Key messages included the importance of clear access pathways, professional support for users, sustainable funding for expert staff, international training and mentoring, FAIR image data services, and strong community structures for exchange of experience across facilities and countries.

The programme also provided a valuable opportunity to discuss shared challenges between Canada and Europe. These include the long-term sustainability of scientific platforms, the recognition and career development of platform scientists and administrators, the role of national funders and institutions, and the potential of research infrastructures to connect academia, industry and public-sector priorities.

Later in the programme, Euro-BioImaging contributed to the panel discussion “Industry Engagement, Collaboration and Innovation.” This session explored how scientific platforms can position themselves not only as providers of access to technologies, but as trusted partners for innovation.

Strengthening ties between Canada and Europe

The visit to Ottawa also strengthened Euro-BioImaging’s links with CNSP, Canada BioImaging and the broader Canadian scientific platform ecosystem. Canada and Europe share a strong interest in open access to excellent research infrastructures, professional development for platform staff, FAIR and AI-ready image data, and international collaboration. The meeting therefore provided an important opportunity to explore how the Canadian and European communities can continue learning from each other.

Euro-BioImaging warmly congratulates CNSP on its 10th anniversary and thanks the organisers and participants for the open and inspiring discussions in Ottawa. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the Canadian scientific platform community, including through Global BioImaging and we are excited for more opportunities for exchange between imaging infrastructures worldwide.