Microscopy core facilities are critical to modern research, providing access to advanced microscopy applications and expert support. Despite this, global benchmarking data on facility operations, staffing and sustainability remain limited. We conducted the first truly global international survey of microscopy facilities, capturing 196 responses across 34 countries and six continents. The survey includes 74 questions covering facility leaders, facilities, optical microscopy, electron microscopy and image analysis. The results reveal distinct benchmarking data and operational trends on a global and continent basis. This will enable facility leaders, institutions and policymakers to strengthen their microscopy infrastructure, optimise facility staffing and operations, and ensure equitable access to advanced microscopy applications.
Schmidt et al. (2026) studied this question.