The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, one of the world's top research institutions, is dedicated to basic research in the molecular life sciences. EMBL is funded by public research monies from 20 member states - Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and an associate member state, Australia.

Research at EMBL is conducted by approximately 85 independent groups covering the spectrum of molecular biology. The Laboratory has five units: the main Laboratory in Heidelberg, and outstations in Hinxton near Cambridge (the European Bioinformatics Institute), Grenoble, Hamburg, and Monterotondo near Rome. EMBL is international, innovative and interdisciplinary. Its 1,400 employees from 60 nations represent scientific disciplines including biology, physics, chemistry and computer science.

The cornerstones of EMBL's mission are: to perform basic research in molecular biology, to train scientists, students and visitors at all levels, to offer vital services to scientists in the member states, and to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences, and technology transfer.