EMBnet was formed in 1988 and is registered in the Netherlands as a public foundation (Stichting). Originally embodied as a European collaboration, it has expanded globally during the last twenty years, with representatives also from Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.

EMBnet’s mission is to provide education and training in bioinformatics, to exploit network infrastructures to investigate, develop and deploy public domain software, to assist biotechnology- and bioinformatics-related research, bridging between commercial and academic sectors, promoting global cooperation through its community networks.
In 2011, EMBnet had 33 nodes spread over 30 countries. The Nodes include bioinformatics related university departments, research institutes and national service providers. The main task of most EMBnet Nodes is to provide their national scientific community with access to bioinformatics databases, specialised software and sufficient computing resources. National nodes also collaborate to develop good practice, to develop and share capabilities and software with local communities. Nodes also offer a variety of services, including the provision of advice, training and workshops in bioinformatics, according to local capacity and needs.

As global bioinformatics network, EMBnet shares common interests and works closely with other international networks and scientific societies, including the ISCB, APBioNet, SoIBio, ASBCB, BTN; in addition, it provides links and support to many smaller collaborative and thematic networks.

In April 2011, EMBnet and ISCB enthusiastically embraced the idea of a formal collaboration that will ensure EMBnet training courses are incorporated into ISCB meetings whenever possible, particularly those in developing regions (ISCB and EMBnet to collaborate on bioinformatics education and training: press release, EMBnet.journal, vol 17(1), 6).

EMBnet Stichting  p/a
CMBI Radboud University
Nijmegen Medical Centre
Geert Grooteplein 26-28
6581 GB Nijmegen

phone: +31 (0)24 3619390
fax: +31 (0)24 3619395
e-mail: EMBnet@cmbi.ru.nl