ELIXIR IMPACT: A Czech–Swiss Partnership Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Connect Biological and Health Data
What if, during the next epidemic, scientists could immediately share and analyze data across borders without losing valuable time? What if the medicine of the future could provide treatments tailored precisely to you, based on your unique biology?
These are the questions at the heart of ELIXIR IMPACT, a joint initiative of Czech and Swiss scientists launched in January 2026.
The project brings together seven leading Czech research institutions, led by the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague), and the internationally renowned Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB). Together, they are building a digital infrastructure for life sciences that combines interconnected databases, artificial intelligence tools, and secure computing environments to unlock new insights from biological and health data.
What does this mean for all of us?
Precision medicine tailored to you. By improving the integration of information about molecules, lipids, and metabolic processes in the human body, the project will pave the way for therapies tailored to the biology of each individual patient—not to an average person, but to you.
Faster responses to future epidemics. A new Czech Pathogen Portal will connect data on human health, animal health, and the environment. This will help scientists detect, understand, and respond to emerging threats more rapidly and in a more coordinated way than ever before.
Secure sharing of sensitive data. The project lays the foundations for a European infrastructure that will allow researchers to analyze sensitive genetic and health data across borders without the data ever leaving their country of origin. This approach is essential for international collaboration in modern medicine while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and security.
Benefits reaching scientists worldwide
The tools and databases developed within ELIXIR IMPACT are expected to support more than 10,000 researchers worldwide every year, accelerating discoveries in biomedicine, public health, and life sciences. The project runs until the end of 2028 with a total budget of nearly CZK 69.5 million, of which 85% is funded by Switzerland. For the Czech Republic, ELIXIR IMPACT represents one of the most significant bilateral scientific collaborations of recent years.
Abstract and Project Objectives
The overall objective of this project is to significantly advance the integration and use of biological data through state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI), creating new possibilities for research and applications in personalised medicine and public health. Specifically, the project aims to:
- Enhance interoperability and usability of essential molecular, lipid, metabolite, and pathogen data resources through advanced semantic integration and AI-based knowledge graphs, enabling researchers seamless access to integrated data for biomedical discovery.
- Develop innovative AI-based tools and services, including natural language query systems, to improve data discoverability and accelerate research outcomes, making biological datasets accessible and actionable for researchers and clinicians.
- Establish secure, scalable computational infrastructures that enable sensitive omics data to be safely shared and analysed across borders, aligning with European-level initiatives and European regulatory frameworks, thus facilitating international cooperation in critical areas of clinical research and public health.
- Expand research capacity and expertise through targeted training initiatives, workshops, and educational resources that equip researchers with practical skills in data interoperability, AI methodologies, and secure sensitive-data management.
- Strengthen Czech-Swiss scientific collaboration by leveraging complementary expertise, infrastructure, and strategic positions of ELIXIR CZ and CH, ensuring sustainable leadership roles within the European life-sciences research landscape.
Achievement of these objectives will deliver measurable outcomes, including increased usage and impact of integrated bioinformatics resources, improved cross-border research capabilities, and enhanced skills in AI and data management for thousands of life-sciences researchers across Europe.
| Beneficiary | Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ELIXIR CZ) |
| Project partner(s) (Czech Republic) | Palacký University Olomouc
Czech technical University in Prague Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague Masaryk University University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice |
| Project partner(s) (Switzerland) | SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics |
| Project duration | 1.1.2026–31.12.2028 |
| Main project location | Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, Prague |
| Project website | https://www.elixir-czech.cz/elixir-impact-2026-2028?utm_source=chatgpt.com |
| Website: The Second Swiss Contribution | https://www.swiss-contribution.cz/en/ |
| Total eligible project costs | CZK 69,464,294 |
| Of which 85% from the Swiss contribution | CZK 59,044,649.90 |
| Project ID | 8K0208 |
