On the occasion of the Feierliche Sitzung/Ceremonial Meeting of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, on May 8th, 2015, both Heinz Fischer, President of Austria and Reinhold Mitterlehner, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Science, Research and Economy emphasized the pioneering achievements of CeMM and IMBA and their importance for Austria as a top location for science. Academy President Anton Zeilinger acknowledged the appeal and confirmed the intention to work on securing the future of the life science institutes in consultations with all people concerned, for the benefit of society.