The Center will conduct a research, outreach and training program designed to equip a new generation of scientists and engineers to take advantage of programmable artificial cell evolution. The new European Center for Living Technology is to be established in Venice, supported by the European Union, the city of Venice, and the University of Venice Ca Foscari. Researchers will be invited to the Center to collaborate on PACE and related multidisciplinary projects involving living technology. The Center will also proactively foster informed public discussion of the novel social, safety and ethical issues raised by living technology. The center will be constituted during the General Council Meeting of the PACE project, during the first week of April 2004.

The mission of ECLT is: to promote, realize and coordinate activities of research, training and diffusion of scientific results in living technology. In particular, this field involves aspects of nano-biotechnologies, emergent information technologies, adaptive complex systems and artificial life.

The initial focus of the Center is given by the PACE project, which also provides the initial funding from the European Commision.