1. Vision
Biotechnology is a key factor for the sustainable development of our future.
The Young European Biotech Network (YEBN) is a non-profit organization whose aim is to strengthen the cooperation between European countries through a network of associations and individuals engaged in Life Sciences, in order to promote a responsible and dynamic community of young scientists.
YEBN is associated to the European Federation of Biotechnology.
2. Membership
YEBN is comprised of associations established as legal subjects in European countries and individual members.
Individual persons join YEBN as affiliate members. Membership is not restricted to age, citizenship, or profession. Membership is free of charge.
By entering YEBN, each association or affiliate member accepts the YEBN statutes, and that personal details are added to databases for the use of networking.
YEBN members can edit, change or delete their user profiles, on their own or with the help of the administration.
3. Structure
General
The YEBN bodies are the General Assembly (GA), the Executive Board (EB), the Consulting Board (COB), project0 (p0) and the Country Boards (CB).
The General Assembly
The General Assembly is constituted by delegations (possibly including the country board) of each institutional member of the network and of the affiliate members group.
The GA elects the EB, elaborates on YEBN’s guidelines and meets at least once a year.
The Executive Board
The Executive Board is composed of five members and is the executive organ of YEBN, and as such is the decision making authority that is together with project0 responsible for the administration of YEBN. The EB elects a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from the EB for the period of one year. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman represent YEBN at international level. The EB jointly approves projects brought up by project teams. EB members should act in the interest of the whole of YEBN.
The EB should cultivate open policymaking, thus forwarding information on decisions and discussions to project0 and/or all YEBN members. There can only be one EB member per country. The EB is elected for one year and re-election is possible.
In exceptional cases it is possible to replace EB members that drop out in between GAs. The other members choose a successor.
Merit-based election of YEBN EB members
The eligibility of an EB member is based on measurable effort - the same expectations as CB delegation activities apply.
EB candidates qualify for elections in a pre-qualification prior to the annual meeting: unlimited numbers of candidates are proposed by any member to YEBN. The candidates get approved for the elections according to their achievements for YEBN. Candidates should be publicly announced prior to the AM.
Elections: pre-selected candidates are presented to the plenum at the Annual Meeting and the election is conducted publicly.
Consulting Board
A Consulting Board constituted by elder EB members or equally experienced YEBN members is appointed by the acting EB for at least 6 months.
The COB will consult and support the acting EB in a personal mentoring program, and will sustain personal knowledge and expertise within YEBN. The COB will review and evaluate strategic options for YEBN’s future development, though it has only suggestive rights>
COB and EB will stay in close contact. COB members are invited to EB-meetings.
Project0
Project0 is an international pool of people contributing actively and permanently to YEBN.
The EB, and the CB are members of p0.
Assigned tasks are:
Sponsoring/ Partnering;
Budget Administration;
Contact with European organizations;
Internal Information Management;
Membership Administration;
Corporate Identity & PR;
First Contact for Projects;
Web Portal;
First Contact for Externals;
All other general tasks in the daily work of YEBN.
The RBO Bologna
The Regional Branch Office of the European Federation of Biotechnology in Bologna is YEBN’s headquarters. Project0 members are welcome to ask for various support.
The Country Board
Each YEBN member country should be represented by a delegation of at least three persons (country chair plus two vice chairs), forming the Country Board. The Country Board is embedded into project0 and serves as a communication and coordination interface between YEBN and the activities of each member country. Should more than one association from the same country become member in YEBN, the associations have to elect a joint board of representatives on their own. Affiliates may join the CB by joint approval of the CB, up to two per country.
The CB is informed by all decisions the EB makes regarding the CB, and distributes information from the EB to the national teams.
Each CB delegation has either to
- set up, conduct new projects within YEBN
- commit themselves in existing projects
- represent YEBN at conferences at national or international level
- contribute actively over a period of at least 6 months to the YEBN administrational affairs within project0 (PR, funding, member administration).
Decisions of the EB that affect one or more member countries have to be taken in cooperation with the respective Country Board.
Confidentiality:
Each YEBN member of p0 accepts YEBN policy to keep member data confidential.
4. Projects
Every member is encouraged to initiate and pursue or join existing projects. Initiation of a project is done by submitting a project plan to the EB of YEBN. A project plan template is available from the Executive Board. A project plan has to include:
- project leader and team
- precise description of the project’s goal
- a realization schedule and milestones
- detailed budget calculations
- anticipated risks.
The EB approves a project if it
a) sufficiently describes the idea, goals and realization plan
b) complies with the YEBN vision
c) is thought to be compliant with ethical standards.
Every project is financially independent from the YEBN organization. once a project is approved, YEBN promotes the project with the resources available.
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