Eurotransplant has been founded in 1967 by Prof. Dr. Jon van Rood (1926-2017) and is responsible for the allocation of donor organs in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia (135 million inhabitants). This international collaborative framework includes all transplant hospitals, tissue-typing laboratories and hospitals where organ donations take place. As mediator between donor and recipient, Eurotransplant plays a key role in the allocation and distribution of donor organs for transplantation. The mission statement and goals of Eurotransplant express the foundation's main target: to ensure an optimal use of available donor organs. The allocation system is based upon medical en ethical criteria. Through conducting and facilitating scientific research, Eurotransplant aims at a constant improvement of transplant outcomes.