This month I succeed Hermann Bujard as director of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). EMBO was founded in 1964 with the goal of promoting cross-border cooperation in molecular biology research in Europe. From the start, it aimed to act as a counterweight to the hierarchical academic structures in the European research and funding culture. Although the organization is funded directly by 27 participating countries, EMBO is guided in its decisions by its members. These are some 1300 distinguished scientists in Europe and abroad, who select the people and programs to be supported based exclusively on merit.