The European Society for Virology (ESV) is a non-profit organization founded on 30 October 2008. Since then, it has provided a forum for scientists active in all aspects of Virology. The stated aim of the Society is to promote and stimulate the exchange of information and collaboration among individual scientists as well as among national and international associations of Virology throughout Europe. To achieve these goals, ESV organizes congresses and courses, offers fellowships and promotes education in Virology at all levels, and represents the science, art and profession of Virology to governmental and regulatory institutions of the European Union, the media and the general public. Today, ESV counts more than 500 individual members from 53 countries inside and outside Europe and has as corporate members the national societies for Virology in European countries with altogether more than 3700 members.