2001–2026

ELLS celebrates 25 years of collaboration

Celebrating a quarter-century of international cooperation, innovation and shared commitment to sustainable life sciences.

Welcome to the ELLS 25th Anniversary page

In 2026, the Euroleague for Life Sciences celebrates 25 years of collaboration among leading European universities committed to life sciences and sustainable development.

This anniversary marks a quarter-century of joint teaching, innovative study opportunities, and vibrant student and staff mobility. Together, these activities have helped create a truly international learning environment across the ELLS network.

It is also an opportunity to recognise the collective impact of ELLS in educating new generations of professionals and researchers who address global challenges in agriculture, forestry, the environment, bioeconomy and rural development.

Education

Joint teaching and innovative study opportunities

Mobility

International experiences for students and staff

Cooperation

Long-term partnerships across European universities

Sustainability

Shared responses to global life science challenges

Celebrating across the ELLS network

This page presents special anniversary events organised by ELLS partner universities throughout 2026. Explore the stories below and join us in celebrating the achievements of the network and its future ambitions for excellence, openness and sustainability in higher education.

Germany

University of Hohenheim

Dies academicus 2026

A summer celebration of academic life and 25 years of ELLS

Friday, 3 July 2026

The University of Hohenheim brought together university members, alumni, friends and supporters for its annual summer festival, the traditional Dies academicus.

The programme combined an academic ceremony, the presentation of prizes and scholarships, student activities, international food, music and celebrations in the historic courtyard of Hohenheim Palace.

ELLS anniversary keynote

A central part of the academic ceremony was the keynote address “Global Volatility and European Food Security.”

The keynote was delivered by Prof. Dr. Arthur P.J. Mol, one of the world’s leading experts in environmental policy and President of Wageningen University from 2015 to 2024. During his nine-year presidency, he contributed significantly to the development and growth of ELLS. His participation gave the University of Hohenheim an opportunity to connect its traditional academic celebration with the alliance’s 25th anniversary.

Programme highlights

10:00

Academic ceremony

The University opened its traditional Dies academicus in the Otto Rettenmaier Audimax. The ceremony included a welcome from University President Christoph Schneider and the anniversary keynote by Arthur Mol.

12:00–24:00

Student booths in the Palace courtyard

Students presented the vibrant cultures of the University of Hohenheim through culinary specialities and refreshments from different parts of the world. Information booths also introduced visitors to student projects and academic life.

13:30

Awards and scholarships

Students and talented early career researchers received prizes and scholarships recognising outstanding academic performance, research, teaching, sustainability and student engagement.

16:00

Traditional tapping of the keg

Following university tradition, the President tapped the keg in the Palace courtyard, marking the beginning of the afternoon and evening celebrations.

19:00–24:00

Evening celebration

The day concluded with a party in the inner courtyard of Hohenheim Palace, featuring musical entertainment, international food and a special summer atmosphere in front of the baroque Palace.

Prizes and scholarships presented

Hohenheim Teaching Prize Award for Outstanding Student Involvement Student Award from Universitätsbund Hohenheim e.V. Research Award from Universitätsbund Hohenheim e.V. Prof. Dr. Walther Bolz Prize Professor Wild Award Johannsen Bioeconomy Award HUTTER Young Researcher Paper Award NatureLife Sustainability Award DAAD Prize Herzog von Württemberg Scholarship Dr. Hermann Eiselen Scholarship Programme Lilo and Wilm Bartels Prize Award for Students

Through academic reflection, recognition of excellence and a lively celebration of its international university community, the University of Hohenheim marked the ELLS anniversary in the spirit of cooperation, diversity and shared commitment to the future of life sciences.

Austria

BOKU University

International Days at BOKU

Celebrating 25 years of ELLS with students and the university community

BOKU University marked the 25th anniversary of ELLS during its International Days, introducing students and visitors to the many opportunities offered by the ELLS network.

The anniversary activities included an ELLS information stand, a poster exhibition presenting opportunities such as the Scientific Student Conference, joint programmes and international mobility, as well as an interactive ELLS quiz. Visitors could learn more about the alliance, discuss international opportunities and take home small anniversary gifts.

ELLS at the BOKU International Days

Students participating in the ELLS quiz during the International Days at BOKU University

Students taking part in the ELLS anniversary quiz during the BOKU International Days.

Visitors learning about ELLS study, mobility and networking opportunities at BOKU University

Visitors learning more about ELLS study, mobility and networking opportunities.

ELLS poster exhibition presenting the Scientific Student Conference and other network opportunities

The ELLS poster exhibition presenting the Scientific Student Conference and other opportunities across the network.

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Watch BOKU University’s anniversary video

BOKU also shared a video from the anniversary activities on Instagram, offering a closer look at the celebration and the ELLS presence during the International Days.

Watch the video on Instagram

Through personal conversations, interactive activities, an exhibition and digital communication, BOKU University introduced a new generation of students to the opportunities and international community that ELLS has built over the past 25 years.

Norway

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

ELLS at 25

Opening new opportunities for NMBU

As a proud member of the EuroLeague for Life Sciences (ELLS), NMBU is joining the celebration of the network's 25th anniversary in 2026. Although NMBU has been part of ELLS only since 2022, the collaboration has already created valuable opportunities for students and staff.

To mark the anniversary, NMBU reflected on how ELLS has strengthened international collaboration and contributed to education, research and innovation. Two NMBU colleagues shared their experience: Elise Norberg, Researcher in Breeding, Genetics and Food Production Systems, and Hilde Vinje, Associate Professor in Biostatistics at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science.

Building opportunities across borders

A strong network for students and staff

Elise Norberg has followed NMBU's ELLS journey closely. She highlights the alliance's organisation around academic subject areas as an important strength, helping researchers and educators build lasting professional networks.

For students, ELLS opens access to high-quality summer schools and the annual Scientific Student Conference, where they can present their work. Staff can develop and organise courses together, while administrative colleagues exchange knowledge and best practices across the network.

“There are lots of opportunities for students and staff in the ELLS network.”

What makes ELLS special?

Shared academic profile

The alliance brings together leading European universities working in the life sciences.

Long-term trust

ELLS builds on a long tradition of collaboration in both education and research.

Active participation

NMBU has contributed to the successful European Universities Initiative application and to the revised governance structure of ELLS.

A major milestone for the alliance

For Norberg, the successful application through the ELLS alliance under the European Universities Initiative represents one of the most important milestones. It was the result of extensive work across all partner institutions and opens new possibilities for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.

Collaboration in practice

Building digital solutions together

The value of the ELLS network is also visible in concrete collaborative projects. Hilde Vinje coordinates an ELLS pilot project involving NMBU, SLU, Wageningen University and BOKU, together with SIKT.

The original idea was to explore a shared cloud-based environment for research and teaching across universities. The project has since been scaled down to focus on a joint PhD course, which will test how such a digital environment can support teaching and collaboration across institutions.

“There was a clear interest in finding shared solutions rather than each university developing everything independently.”

Vinje sees ELLS as the established network that made it possible to bring universities and technical partners from several countries together around a common idea. She hopes the project will make courses and expertise more easily available across ELLS universities and encourage new collaboration in teaching.

Looking ahead

As ELLS prepares to enter a new phase as a European University Alliance, NMBU sees strong potential for closer collaboration in education. For Norberg, one of the most exciting opportunities is the possibility to continue developing study programmes and pedagogical approaches together with leading life science universities in Europe.

By learning from one another, exchanging experience and jointly developing new approaches, the partners can create further opportunities for students and staff and strengthen their ability to educate future change makers.

Elise Norberg

“Great opportunities to learn and develop in a strong alliance.”

Hilde Vinje

“I hope it can make it easier to find colleagues with shared interests and create new opportunities for collaboration across institutions.”

NMBU's experience shows how ELLS combines long-term trust with new ideas: from student opportunities and professional networks to joint digital solutions and the next phase of European university cooperation.

Further ELLS university celebrations will be added soon

Return to this page to discover how other members of the ELLS community are celebrating the alliance’s 25th anniversary.