Strengthening industry-research infrastructure collaboration through EVOLVE
On February 4, 2026, the Bordeaux Imaging Center (BIC), a node of France-BioImaging and part of the Euro-BioImaging ERIC network, hosted representatives from ZEISS in Bordeaux within the framework of the EVOLVE initiative. The visit was designed as an immersive job shadowing experience, allowing industry partners to directly observe how advanced imaging technologies are implemented and operated in a core facility environment.
Throughout the day, discussions revolved around real-life workflows in correlative microscopies, advanced light-sheet imaging, and plant imaging under physiological constraints. Correlation was approached broadly, encompassing not only light and electron microscopy, but also multi-modal strategies combining different contrast mechanisms, spatial scales and preparation conditions. Rather than focusing on individual systems, the exchanges centered on how these complementary modalities are orchestrated in practice to answer complex biological questions.
One particularly illustrative discussion concerned live imaging of plant root systems. Unlike many biological samples, plant roots are highly sensitive to gravity and grow continuously during observation. Conventional horizontal microscope configurations can therefore introduce non-physiological constraints, potentially altering the very processes under investigation. This raises the need for vertical imaging solutions capable of maintaining biological relevance during long-term experiments, while preserving resolution, stability and usability. Such cases exemplify how instrumentation must adapt to biological reality -not the other way around- if it is to fully serve the end user.
Across all topics, a common theme emerged: beyond technical performance, researchers require integrated, reliable and user-friendly solutions that fit within complex research infrastructure ecosystems. By confronting field practices with industrial perspectives, the visit fostered a shared understanding of operational constraints, technological opportunities and long-term expectations.
This EVOLVE exchange reinforced the role of Euro-BioImaging and its national nodes, including France-BioImaging and the BIC, as catalysts for structured dialogue between research infrastructures and industry. By anchoring innovation in real user environments and evolving scientific needs, the initiative contributes to shaping sustainable, co-designed technological developments that ultimately benefit the research community.
