Sigma Life Science, the innovative biological products and services brand of Sigma-Aldrich, announced details of a corporate partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Advanced Training Centre, based in Heidelberg, Germany, that officially opened on March 9, 2010. The partnership brings together EMBL's world-class advanced training programme with Sigma Life Science Customer Education Programmes, an initiative featuring custom-designed technical workshops and training courses for scientific researchers focused in key technology areas, such as zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) and RNAi technology.

"Our partnership with EMBL provides scientists and researchers at all levels and from all around the world with a unique opportunity to train in key Sigma Life Science technology areas using state-of-the-art teaching laboratories and prerequisite tools," commented Helge Bastian, vice president of Marketing, Sigma-Aldrich Research Biotech business unit, a Sigma Life Science initiative. "With the launch of this partnership in September 2009, we look forward to developing a compelling and comprehensive series of joint training courses designed not only to meet future challenges in modern science, but to facilitate the networking of young and established scientists, enabling the exchange of ideas to shape the future directions of research."

Joerg Fleckenstein, senior manager of Resource Development, EMBL, added, "We are glad to have Sigma Aldrich taking part in the EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme. The courses that are going to be jointly developed and implemented with Sigma Aldrich and other partners will represent a valuable addition to the existing programme of courses and conferences at EMBL."

Sigma Life Science's core mission is to enable researchers to unravel the complex biomolecular interactions within cells, tissues, organs and organisms. The recently launched 'Where Bio Begins' brand and website are generating awareness of the company's strengths in providing products and technologies that are intended to facilitate scientists' understanding of how diseases develop and how molecules function, providing a single destination where researchers can access deep biological knowledge and market-leading products and technologies. The EMBL partnership enables Sigma Life Science to further support this mission and reinforces the company's dedication to research and education in biology and molecular life sciences.

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a basic research institute funded by public research monies from 20 member states.