A good time to look back, but also a time to look forward, and what better way to look forward than by thinking about what the next 75 years will bring – not just for the lab, but for scientific research in general? Welcome to TOMORROW LAB since 1945.
We don’t know what will come. But we know that you will find out. Together we can look towards a future that inspires and improves people´s living conditions.
Transforming science for tomorrow: Watch how the University of East London keeps their position as one of the most modern universities of the UK - with Eppendorf at their side.
When doing research, the focus always tends to be on the future: What’s the next step? In which direction is the field moving? What new discoveries lie ahead?
In these situations, it’s sometimes good to take a step back and think about how we got here. What can we learn from the past when stepping into the future? A lot of this comes back to trust; the trusted methods and trusted technologies that form the basis of our work today often remain a valuable building block for the new developments of tomorrow.
This same principle applies to the manufacturers that support scientists in their work. This year marks the 75th anniversary of Eppendorf as a company – throughout these years, we have gained the trust of generations of researchers in the laboratory with our products - most notably, of course, the iconic "Eppi®".
But we didn’t stop there. Our scientists and engineers are on a constant mission to build on trusted methods to help address the challenges that today’s scientists face. It's easy to see this in the field of genomics. Researchers have been using our pipettes to set up their PCRs for decades, but as experiments in the field of genomics increase in scope, manual pipetting quickly becomes very time-consuming.
This is why we developed the epMotion® automated liquid handling systems – fast, easy-to-use systems that build on years of experience in liquid handling and use this experience to help scientists with the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Who knows what the next 75 years will bring!
Learn more about Pipetting of Challenging Liquids | Automated Liquid Handling and epMotion | About Eppendorf
"If our society continues to support basic research on how living organisms function, it is likely that my great grandchildren will be spared the agony of losing family members to most types of cancer." - Paul D. Boyer, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1997
Improving health is something that underpins the vast majority of research in life science. And it’s not just about finding better treatments, or entirely new approaches such as stem cell-based treatments; it’s also about detecting disease earlier, shedding light on the complex origins of disease, and understanding how the delicate balance of the microbiome affects health.
In the whirlwind of headlines about breakthroughs in medical research, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the fundamental research that laid the foundation for new treatments or new insights. Luckily, it is not always overlooked. The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to researchers in the US and the UK for the fundamental discovery of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability. This understanding gives insights into new treatments for conditions ranging from cancer, to anemia, and heart disease.
We at Eppendorf are passionate about supporting scientists engaged in fundamental research. Aside from providing cell and molecular biology users with their day-to-day lab needs, we also support the Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators. Established 25 years ago, it is presented in partnership with the journal Nature® , and acknowledges outstanding contributions to biomedical research in Europe.
Keep an eye out for the next winner of this prestigious award.
Learn more about Science Counts - But What Counts in Science? | The Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators
As the human population continues to grow, how can we be certain there will be enough food and resources in the future to support our needs?
The UN estimates that by 2100 the human population will increase to ten billion – and while land suitable for growing crops is becoming increasingly scarce, the land area devoted to agriculture would have to double in the next 35 years in order to feed everyone.
This clearly highlights the fact that we are going to have to become more inventive and efficient in the way we produce food and raw materials. Crops will need to become more nutrient-rich and tolerant to the effects of climate change. And we also have to make sure that the food we produce is safe.
Molecular biology techniques can play a key role, both in food research and in food quality testing. The great thing about using molecular biology in food testing is that scientists can get their results very quickly, so testing doesn’t cause any significant delays.
At Eppendorf, we support scientists working in food testing, research, and production around the globe with products such as pipettes and tips, tubes, centrifuges, mixers, photometers, and freezers – as well as automated liquid handling systems for high-throughput testing. Our technology is used worldwide to help governments and agencies ensure that the food they test is safe – because only safe food ensures our survival.
Learn more about Bioprocessing - an ancient techniques | Food & Beverage at Eppendorf | Biofuels
Thanks in part to advances in biological and medical research, humans on average now live longer than ever before. As this change continues, more attention will be focused not just on preventing and curing diseases, but also on ageing itself – and on how we can age healthily.
Our understanding of the way humans age has come a long way. We can now study genetic changes in individual cells to see how they contribute to ageing and associated diseases, leading to more effective treatments when things go wrong.
An example of this increased understanding is the important role that our microbiome plays in ageing. The microbiome consists of all microorganisms – bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses – living in or on the human body. Studies have shown how the microbiome of our intestines changes dramatically during ageing, and that these changes are linked to human health and lifespan.
For a quarter of a century, we’ve been supporting research into ageing and other areas of molecular biology through the Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators in partnership with the journal Nature® . In 2018, Professor Andrea Ablasser was awarded the prize for showing that a mechanism involved in the immune response is also activated in ageing cells.
As with the last 75 years, we will continue innovating to ensure molecular biologists have access to the most ground-breaking, reliable, and consistent products to give them the best chance of success in their research. And we look forward to continuing to reward this success through the Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators.
Learn more about Muscle Cells from the Lab | The Importance of Stem Cells
Many areas of life will experience far-reaching innovations in the future. But what does this mean for the researchers who are seeking to realize these aims?
Some of these innovations are already applied in labs today. One of these is big data. The amount of data we can store and the speed at which it can be processed has been increasing exponentially for decades, and these abilities are having an enormous impact in many areas of life science research.
Lab automation will also inevitably continue in years to come. In today’s labs, automation is still mostly associated with repetitive, high-throughput tasks, but as machines and software get smarter and the role of AI is expanding, it will also become possible to use automation in research tasks that require adjustments based on initial results.
And what other areas will define the lab, or researcher, of tomorrow? It has been suggested that introducing gamification and game theory elements into research will contribute to the research of the future, but maybe the next big thing will come from somewhere nobody expects.
In the last 75 years, we at Eppendorf have been leading the way in applying the latest technologies to support the scientists of tomorrow. You can see this in one of our core areas – pipetting – where we support automation through our epMotion® automated liquid handling systems, place user ergonomics at the center with our PhysioCare® concept, and improve connectivity with our new connected pipette.
But we have not stopped there. We have also teamed up with other companies in the smartLAB collaboration to work on new digital solutions for labs worldwide. Our VisioNize® and eLABTM applications offering helps scientists digitize lab tasks that are often done manually, such as equipment control, inventory management, and lab journal writing – thereby helping labs to become connected, paperless, and ready for the future.
Learn more about Digital Lab Solutions from Eppendorf | Cloud Solutions in Science | Digital sample Management
Disclaimer
Nature® is a registered trademark of Springer Nature Holdings Ltd., UK. Eppendorf®, the Eppendorf Brand Design, Eppi®, epMotion®, Eppendorf Tubes®, VisioNize® and the Eppendorf PhysioCare Concept® are registered trademarks of Eppendorf AG, Germany. eLABTM is a trademark of Bio-ITech BV.
And matters of the heart stay with you – for a lifetime. For the past 75 years, Eppendorf has been the reliable partner to our customers across the globe, employer to more than 3,500 colleagues, and an expert in the field of Life Sciences. A family business with the highest standard: you can always rely on Eppendorf!
"To improve human living conditions” – our company mission statement, coined by our founders, is as current and relevant now as it was then. Since 1945, and into the future, it is our guiding principle and our passion. On the occasion of our 75th anniversary, we invite you to not only look back but also to join us in looking closely at the topics of the future; as always, Eppendorf expects to improve the world of tomorrow – today. In this booklet, we present five major questions regarding the future which illustrate the opportunities and the meaning of the Life Sciences of the future to scientists and to us alike. Discover why Eppendorf has been the TOMORROW LAB since 1945.
Read more in our brochure
After 75 years, the mission of the company is just as valid and relevant as it ever was. Immerse yourself in 75 years of company history and discover the biggest milestones, the first Eppendorf products and your old friends in lab, like the Multipette® 4780 and the Centrifuge 5415C.
Remember your first Eppendorf product? The one experiment that kept you up for nights? The hours you spent in front of your lab device watching it working? The time you spent documenting lab experiments?
Your stories and experiences are our motivation to remain your expert partner in the lab. Eppendorf and you: Together we can look towards a future that inspires and improves people´s living conditions.
Share your “Eppendorf Moment” with the global lab community and be entered for a chance to win: 3x 25 lucky entries will be randomly selected to win one of 75 Eppendorf Surprise Packages, including the new special edition of the Eppendorf Pipette Pen, Eppi® T-Shirts, other merchandise, and even the chance to win a UE BOOM 3 Bluetooth-Box for celebrating 75 years of supporting scientists in your lab!
Your SARS-CoV2-Research, Our Solutions for Virology and Vaccine Development
In 1995 Eppendorf celebrated its 50th anniversary.
To commemorate this, the company initiated an annual award for early career researchers for outstanding contributions to biomedical research – the Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators.
More information
I attended a small high school in a small suburb and taken as many science courses as I could. When I finally went to college, I used my first manual Eppendorf pipette in a Microbiology lab. This was in the early days of PCR and there was much emphasis on careful calculation and accurate measurement. My instructor was adamant about using only Eppendorf pipettes and she made a point to explain that working with DNA was no different than any other trade in that a worker was only as good as their tools. At the time, I didn’t realize how much of an impression that it had made on me. Now, I’m nearly thirty years into my career and I have yet to work a job where I’m not using a pipette on a regular basis. And the pipettes are always Eppendorf (because I ordered them myself when they weren’t available). Certainly, the pipettes have evolved over the years in many ways but, fundamentally, the basic design has been the primary tool that has allowed me to study an unseen world, make significant discoveries, publish new information, secure project funding, and make a real difference. So, thank you, Eppendorf, for never leaving me empty-handed.
Year – when did this happen: 1988
Location – where did this happen: Chicago
I have experienced with Eppendorf Research Plus pipettes in a micro-BCA total protein assay for the fist time during my PhD experiments.
It was a giant leap for me but a small step for humankind.
Year – when did this happen: 2013
Location – where did this happen: Ankara - Turkey
As a Service and Calibration Technician, it's a real joy when I am calibrating Eppendorf pipettes. Rarely a week goes by when I don't enjoy their light spring forces and smooth plunger action. These are important traits for an ergonomic pipette since I am pipetting all day long. Every time is an "Eppendorf Moment" as I find out how accurate and precise they are. As a result, it is no surprise why Eppendorf pipettes are so popular.
Location – where did this happen: Service laboratory
When I started the oil business for a company in Venezuela, as essential part of my equipments Eppendorf pipettes were amazing helpful with diverse capacities. Special use were the very small dose volume I needed to inject into the bottle of oil. This was special bottle test to scream demulsifiers basis for optimizing dehydration process in the field. Regards
Year – when did this happen: 1978
Location – where did this happen: Sta. Rita Edo. Zulia
I remember the first time I was trained to use the Eppendorf Repeater. It was my first lab job out of college, and I had never seen a pipette like that before! I avoided used the repeater until I had to repeatedly do the same sample preparation for an assay and the reference pipette was taking me too long. Not only did the repeater help me finish my assay faster, it also improved my accuracy and precision significantly. From that day on, the repeater became my favorite pipette, and it still is to this day! Thank you for having such awesome pipettes!
Year – when did this happen: 2018
Location – where did this happen: Camarillo, CA