The Alliance Center for Electron Microscopy (ACEM) of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) demonstrates how shared infrastructure can strengthen research across institutions in the German capital. A joint, virtual facility of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, ACEM promotes collaboration and knowledge exchange among the partners while providing unified access to electron microscopy resources. All BUA researchers can benefit from its services.

“What makes ACEM truly special is its interdisciplinarity,” says ACEM spokesperson Prof. Matthias Ochs. “It brings together traditionally separate worlds within electron microscopy – the physical and materials sciences on one hand, and the life sciences on the other.” This combination creates a unique spectrum of expertise, instruments, and methods — perfectly in line with the BUA’s motto “Crossing Boundaries.”

A particular focus, Ochs emphasizes, lies in supporting early-career researchers. “Even those who do not yet have their own funding can apply for small seed grants that allow them to use our facilities with minimal administrative effort.”

ACEM continues to expand and refine the shared infrastructure. While the first phase centered on opening existing institutional resources to the entire BUA community (Sharing Resources), the next phase will focus on jointly acquiring new infrastructure (Joint Resources).

“Rather than each of the four partners applying separately for the same type of equipment – which can lead to competition – we coordinate to see whether one shared device could meet the collective need,” explains Ochs. “This approach is not only cost-effective but also resource-efficient and sustainable.”

A major step toward this goal has already been taken with the establishment of a new Core Facility – centralized service units within the Alliance that provide access to specialized technologies and expertise for all partners. Beginning in early 2026, BUA researchers will gain access to state-of-the-art mass spectrometry technology for the first time. This will enable scientists from Berlin’s NeuroCure and ImmunoPreCept Clusters of Excellence to analyze proteins with unprecedented speed and precision, paving the way for breakthroughs in areas such as personalized medicine. 

Read the full press release.