ERA-Shuttle project supported the organisation of an international conference, “Synergic Entanglements Between Structural Biology & Machine Learning: Looking into the Future”  was held at the University of Malta (UM) on May 13–16, 2026. The meeting explored how AI is transforming the structural biology landscape, with a strong focus on global scientific collaboration, data equity, and the strategic empowerment of emerging research hubs.

This thematic thread culminated in a significant institutional milestone during the closing remarks. Prof. Carlo Rizzuto from  Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC) announced that the University of Malta is formally applying for Observer status within the CERIC. Supported by the ERA-Shuttle project – which also co-organized this conference – this discussions regarding Malta’s application are planned to advance soon to the CERIC General Assembly.