Life Sciences Awards Austria 

The Annual Meeting 2026 will once again celebrate excellence in Austrian life sciences through the Life Sciences Awards Austria. These prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievements by researchers and innovators who are shaping the future of the life sciences in Austria and beyond. Find details on award categories and nomination procedures here. Deadline for submission: May 27, 2026

Registrations Now Open!

18th ÖGMBT Annual Meeting 2026 | FEMS Regional COLLAB & FEBS3+ Meeting, Vienna

Dear Members of the ÖGMBT,

There are moments in the life of a scientific society that make all the effort worthwhile — moments that justify the countless late evenings, the intense negotiations, the revisions, the setbacks, and the stubborn, unwavering belief that something truly new is possible. Today is one of those moments.

We are immensely proud — and genuinely moved — to share with you that after month of intense work, and more than a few drops of blood, sweat, and tears, we have succeeded in creating something our community has never seen before: a truly international, interdisciplinary format that bridges societies, disciplines, and nations under one roof.

The 18th ÖGMBT Annual Meeting 2026 is not just another conference. It is the result of a shared dream — forged in close partnership with four European scientific societies and backed by two of the continent's most prestigious federations. It is proof that when scientists collaborate, remarkable things happen.

A Unique International Split Format

This year's meeting combines two interconnected scientific events in Vienna, with a shared programme day bringing all participants together:

 FEMS Regional COLLAB
14–15 September 2026

organized together with the Slovenian Microbiological Society and the Croatian Microbiological Society & designed to help microbiologists build meaningful, long-lasting collaborations across Central Europe.

 FEBS3+ Meeting
15–17 September 2026
organized together with the Czech Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Slovenian Biochemical Society

 Joint Programme Day: 15 September 2026

Participants may register for:

• the FEMS Regional COLLAB meeting,
• the FEBS3+ Meeting,
• or the complete combined programme.

Early Bird Registration Closes Soon

Online early bird registration is now open. Secure the lowest rates by registering during the Early Registration period. As an ÖGMBT member, you are entitled to reduced registration fees. Register here.

Oral Abstract Submission — Don't Miss the Deadline

Abstract submission is now open too. This is your opportunity to present your research to an international audience spanning microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biosciences, AI in biology, precision medicine, bioengineering, and many other emerging fields. Submit your abstracts here.

Check out the List of Invited Panelists and Speakers & the Respective Programmes

 FEMS Regional COLLAB meeting Programme

 FEMS Regional COLLAB Invited Speakers

 FEBS3+ Meeting Programme

 FEBS3+ Invited Panelists

Why participate?

• Connect with researchers, industry, and funding stakeholders
• Discover new collaboration opportunities and future project partners
•  Present your research and expertise
• Engage in highly interactive networking and discussion formats
• Explore cutting-edge scientific developments across the life sciences

We warmly invite you to join us in Vienna and become part of an international scientific community shaped by collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and innovation.

We look forward to welcoming you in Vienna!

Best regards,

Matthias Steiger
Organizing Chair – FEMS Regional COLLAB  

Felix Sternberg
Organizing Chair – FEBS3+ Meeting

on behalf of the Organizing Committee

Supported by: 
FEMS – Federation of European Microbiological Societies
FEBS – Federation of European Biochemical Societies

Dear FEBS Constituent Society members, 

We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the FEBS Congress in Maastricht this summer
Council meeting taking place during the afternoon of Wednesday 8th and the morning of Thursday
Please note below and in the links within this letter, the matters relating to this year’s
and Council meeting. 

50th FEBS Congress; Maastricht, The Netherlands 4th – 8th July 2026 

The Congress is taking place in Maastricht, The Netherlands from Saturday 4th to Wednesday 8th July 2026, 
preceded by the FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum, in Wageningen, The Netherlands, from 2nd to 4th July 2026. 
For the latest updates on Congress registration and abstract submission, please visit here.

Appointment of delegates to the 66th FEBS Council Meeting; Maastricht, The Netherlands 8th – 9th July 2026 
Please return ‘1. Council delegate form 2026’ with details of your Society’s delegate to the 66th 
Council meeting. The form should be sent to FEBS’ Chief Administrator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 31st  May 
2026. 

There will be a Council dinner on the evening of Wednesday 8th July, with the meeting taking place during the 
afternoon of Wednesday 8th and the morning of Thursday 9th July. The meeting will finish on Thursday 
lunchtime so delegates have time to travel home. Further details will be shared with the meeting delegates. 

Elections: nomination of candidates for the available positions of FEBS Committees or Working Groups 

Please note the linked list of the positions available for election and the eligibility criteria and please 
complete the applicable candidate nomination form in the attached zip folder ‘2. Nomination forms for 
elections 2026’. Completed nomination forms should be sent from the nominating society, by email, to FEBS 
Chief Administrator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by the deadline of 31st May 2026.  

2029 Congress and Young Scientists Forum: call for bids 
The call for bids to host the 53rd FEBS Congress and Young Scientists Forum in 2029 is now open, with further 
details attached with this letter. Any society interested in bidding to host the Congress, should in the first 
instance contact the FEBS Congress Counsellor, Prof. Graça Soveral: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Bids should be 
submitted, by email, to FEBS Chief Administrator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by the deadline of 31st  May 2026.  
_________________________________________________________________________________  

FEBS 3+ Meetings and FEBS National Lectures 
On behalf of the Congress Counsellor, I would like to invite you to apply for FEBS National Lecture support for 
your national society meetings in 2026 and 2027 and FEBS 3+ Meeting support for 2027. Please see here for full information and please contact the Congress Counsellor, via the FEBS Events Manager, to apply: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

FEBS 3+ Meetings offer support for scientific national meetings of a FEBS constituent society organised in
collaboration with at least two other constituent societies. FEBS support is currently €20,000 for each meeting
with €10,000 for the host society to use towards general organization and €10,000 to use for a travel award
scheme to attract young scientists outside the host country who are members of one of the collaborating
societies. Applications for meetings in 2027 are invited, with a deadline for applications of 30th September 2026
In 2026, FEBS 3+ meeting support has been awarded to the Austria society (ÖGMBT) for their joint scientific
meeting being held this September, in conjunction with the societies of the Czech Republic and Slovenia. In 2025
FEBS3+ meeting support was awarded to the Lithuania society hosting in conjunction with the societies of Estonia
and Latvia; the Czech society hosting in conjunction with the societies of Slovakia, Poland and Germany; and the
Serbia society hosting in conjunction the societies of Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
FEBS National Lectures: FEBS supports plenary lectures to enhance national scientific meetings of constituent 
societies, with support for the travel costs of an internationally recognised speaker from outside the host 
country. Member societies are encouraged to apply for a FEBS National Lecture award during 2026 and 2027. 
In 2026 so far, FEBS is giving National Lecture support to the society national meetings of Norway, Spain and 
Germany. Support for further society national meetings is available. In 2025, FEBS National Lecture support 
was given to the society national meetings of Norway, Hungary, Spain and Poland. 
_________________________________________________________________________________ 

Please let us know, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., of your society’s annual national meeting, so we can add it to the
calendar on the FEBS website and let us know if there are any updates to your society’s individual page and
contact details on the Members section of our website. 
We are looking forward to seeing you and your society’s members in Maastricht this summer. 
With best wishes, 

Miguel       
-- 
Prof. Miguel A. De la Rosa 
FEBS Secretary General 
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

 

For this contest, our emphasis is on authentic scientific data that is visually compelling and thought-provoking, rather than on artistic renderings, illustrations, or graphics. We are seeking images arising directly from research, including but not limited to:

• Cellular or subcellular fluorescence/confocal images
• Cryo-EM structures or atomic force micrographs
• Protein or nucleic acid structures
• Molecular dynamics snapshots

The winning entry will be featured on the cover of FEBS Letters, and the winner will receive a prize of €500. We will publish an article featuring the winning image and runners-up in the Scientists' Forum, in which the creators will provide a paragraph about the image and their research.

Please note that images created using commercial generative AI are not eligible for our 2026 Cover Contest. Images generated through scientific methods that employ machine learning are eligible.

How to enter

Submit your entry via email to the FEBS Letters Editorial Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. between 18 March 2026 and 30 Sep 2026. Each entry should consist of:

1. A high-resolution image file, formatted as either JPG or PNG. You should name your file e.g. "YourName_CoverContest.jpg".
2. An explanatory caption for your image of up to 200 words. You should include some technical information, e.g. the type of microscopy used, but this should not be a figure caption. Rather, you should tell us what you find interesting or beautiful about the image in the context of your research.
3. Authorship information for your image. Please include your name, email address, and institutional affiliation.

For full details, please see the contest page here.

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/18733468/2026-cover-contest

Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your work!