General

EBF was founded in 2006 at the initiative of 12 pharmaceutical companies. The goal was to create a platform for discussions around science, day-to-day procedures, business tools, technologies and last but not least regulatory issues. Until 2010, EBF membership was limited to pharmaceutical research and development companies with bioanalytical activities in Europe. From 2011 onwards, the EBF welcomed CROs involved in bioanalytical activities in Europe. Since 2010, the EBF became a non-profit organisation (vzw) established pursuant to the Belgian Act of 27 June 1921 on non-profit associations, international non-profit associations and foundations. Currently, the EBF counts 75 members (June 2022).

EBF organises three meeting formats:

1. Focus Workshops: these 1.5 days workshops are organised around themes of high or urgent interest for the EBF community or to connect the EBF with adjacent disciplines to create synergy or learn. Themes may be scientific or process related. Focus Workshops are non-sponsored meetings. They are mostly organised within a relatively short lead time and have a frequency of 2 times/year (one in spring and one in autumn).

Since 2020, and due to travel restrictions, we started organising some of our meetings ’in cyberspace’. In 2022, we will continue to do so for some events, as we continue to monitor the potential for international travel under safe conditions. The 1st FW is being planned. For details of that meeting, see https://springfocus.e-b-f.eu

For the autumn Focus workshop, we plan two separate face to face meetings in Malaga, Spain. For details of those meeting, see https://autumnfocus.e-b-f.eu

2. Open Symposium: Ever since 2008, the EBF organises a yearly Open Symposium in Barcelona (Spain) in the 3rd or 4th week of November .This Open Symposium has become a landmark for bioanalytical discussions in Europe and has created a true Forum-like spirit where people meet and openly discuss during sessions and presentations contributing to the development of an open mind in bioanalysis. Details of the next meeting can be found in this website.
3. Young Scientist Symposium: Since 2014, the EBF organises a YSS. The format was developed to create a development opportunity for young scientist to engage in international discussions. Creating a peer community of young scientists has been a proven recipe to lower the threshold for engagement in this community of young talents. The 8th YSS is just behind us. For details of the meeting, see  https://yss.e-b-f.eu. The 9th YSS planning has started. More info later this year.