Call for new ESB Working Groups

The ESB is inviting its members to propose new Working Groups focused on specific topics within biomechanics. This initiative aims to enhance member involvement, increase visibility on biomechanical challenges, and foster international collaboration.

Purpose of Working Groups

• To promote and advance knowledge in specific research areas within biomechanics.
• To involve coordinators (all ESB members in good standing) from at least three different countries.
• To provide ESB members with an opportunity to shape emerging research directions, build international collaborations, and increase the visibility of their field within the biomechanics community.
• To engage in activities such as: sharing latest developments, proposing standards, identifying challenges, building consensus in theoretical, computational, and experimental areas, moving towards the regulatory acceptance of biomechanical biomarkers, etc.

Goals and outputs

• Each Working Group should have a clear goal and deliver output(s) within a 2-year period.
• The Working Group activities should be distinct from ongoing collaborative arrangements, and be recognizable as an independent, ESB-led initiative.
• Possible outputs include: review papers, perspective papers, consensus statements, white papers.
• Outputs must be labeled as “ESB Working Group X” and acknowledge ESB support.

Reporting and evaluation

• Coordinators of a Working Group must provide an annual report detailing the Working Group’s activities.
• After 1 year, the ESB Council reserves the right to dissolve the Working Group if satisfactory progress has not been made.
• After 2 years, the ESB Council will evaluate the possibility of extending the Working Group for an additional 2-year term.
• The ESB Council will provide a point of contact within the Council, and will offer financial support up to €5,000 per year.

Proposal submission

• ESB members in good standing are invited to submit a proposal for a new Working Group.
• Proposals should be prepared according to the template (maximum 2 pages), and should include:
  • A team of 3-5 ESB members as coordinators from at least three different countries.
  • The motivation for establishing the Working Group.
  • Specific objectives and planned activities.
  • A plan for utilization of the ESB financial support.
• The topic of the new Working Group should be different from the areas of the two already running ESB Working Groups:
  • Musculoskeletal Spine Modeling
  • Virtual Twins of Human Organ Systems
• Proposals (in PDF format) should be submitted electronically to the Chair of the Webportal and Working Groups committee (scientific.chair@esbiomech.org).
• Deadline for submission: April 30, 2026.
• Propopsals will be evaluated based on scientific relevance, novelty, international collaboration, and the feasibility and impact of the proposed activities.
• Up to 2 new Working Groups will be funded in this round. Notification on acceptance/rejection: before the ESB General Assembly (July 11, 2026).

Contact information

• Chair of the Webportal and Working Groups committee (Sandra Loerakker, scientific.chair@esbiomech.org)