The 11th Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)–Max Planck Society (MPG) Exploratory Round Table Conference (ERTC) concluded in Shanghai on November 28, charting a course for intensified international collaboration in the rapidly advancing field of organoid research.

Under the theme "Organoids, Self-organization and Engineering," the three-day meeting brought together over 60 scientists from China, Germany, and international partner institutions to define future research priorities and concrete collaborative actions.

The conference underscored a pivotal moment for organoid technology, transitioning from fundamental scientific exploration to a stage demanding coordinated global efforts. Key leaders from both CAS and MPG emphasized that future progress hinges on not only sharing scientific findings but also on establishing common standards, technologies, and frameworks to guide the field's global trajectory.

Participants explored four key areas: organoids in development, regeneration, and disease; engineering methods to improve multicellular models; organoid self-organization and synthetic systems; and frontier technologies for organoid research. Discussions highlighted organoids' evolution into sophisticated, multicellular platforms capable of modeling complex biological processes with increasing accuracy.

A primary consensus emerged around the urgent need for cross-platform reference standards and benchmarking tools. The current diversity in organoid derivation methods, including embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and adult tissues, limits data comparability.

The group agreed that establishing common validation metrics and open benchmarking datasets is crucial for improving reproducibility and enabling more decisive evaluation of organoid models for clinical applications.

Strong shared interest was also expressed in engineering solutions to advance organoid complexity. Advances increasingly rely on microfluidic devices, biomaterials, high-content imaging, and computational modeling.

Both sides signaled enthusiasm for exploring joint engineering platforms and structured exchange programs for young engineers and biologists. This integrated approach is seen as vital for scaling organoid technology from individual laboratory settings to robust platforms suitable for research, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.

The conference also stressed the importance of selecting appropriate organoid sources for specific biomedical applications. Embryonic-derived organoids offer developmental insights, while adult-derived organoids better model diseased or mature tissue states.

To propel regenerative applications, recommendations included joint comparative studies, shared disease organoid repositories, and coordinated efforts to improve translational pathways. A significant initiative to empower early-career researchers was also endorsed: a youth-led vanguard symposium designed to foster new research directions and long-term collaborations.

The 11th ERTC stands out for its concrete recommendations for global cooperation in a field poised for significant translational and industrial impact. Addressing standardization, scalability, and integration requires coordinated solutions, and the conference outcomes—including shared standards, joint engineering infrastructures, translational pipelines, and youth-driven initiatives—provide a forward-looking framework that will shape organoid research for the next decade.

Prior to the conference, an MPG delegation visited leading CAS institutes in Shenzhen and Shanghai, exploring potential collaborations in engineering biology, regenerative medicine, and large-scale research platforms. These engagements further solidified the groundwork for long-term cooperation aligned with the conference's strategic recommendations.