MIRRI-ERIC All Hands Meeting 2026 Advances Strategic Vision for Quality, Services, and Global Collaboration

MIRRI-ERIC brought together representatives from across its National Nodes, Culture Collections, governance bodies, and international partners for its first-ever MIRRI-ERIC All Hands Meeting (MaM), marking a significant milestone in the development of the Research Infrastructure.

Held in Braga (Portugal), the three-day retreat-like gathering created, for the first time, a dedicated forum for the broader MIRRI-ERIC community to collectively discuss strategic priorities, exchange experiences, and co-design the future of microbial resource management and service provision in Europe and beyond. Through interactive workshops, collaborative workathons, and strategic discussions, participants worked to define concrete actions that will strengthen quality management, data interoperability, international cooperation, user access, and industry engagement across the MIRRI-ERIC network.

 

Expanding the Network and International Reach

A dedicated session explored the experiences of guest and prospective Culture Collections, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in building stronger international connections. Presentations from Morocco and Poland showcased ongoing efforts to organise national microbial resource networks and deepen engagement with MIRRI-ERIC. Representatives from the Netherlands were also present at the meeting, marking continued engagement as prospective members.

One of the central themes of the meeting was the Quality Management Strategy. Through two dedicated Quality Management Workathons, participants examined challenges related to varying levels of quality management maturity, scalability for smaller collections, stakeholder expectations, and peer-support mechanisms.

 

Strengthening Access and Service Delivery

​Participants also explored future approaches to user access and service provision. Discussions focused on creating a more user-centric experience while improving coordination across the distributed MIRRI-ERIC network.

These efforts will contribute to a more robust and interoperable microbial resource ecosystem while strengthening the visibility of MIRRI-ERIC services and resources. The meeting reinforced the importance of maintaining a strong scientific foundation while expanding collaborations with industry, policymakers, and other research infrastructures.

 

Collective community spirit

Beyond the formal programme, the MIRRI-ERIC All Hands Meeting placed a strong emphasis on community building and strengthening personal connections across the MIRRI-ERIC network. Throughout the three days, participants engaged in a series of interactive ice-breaker and informal networking activities designed to encourage dialogue, collaboration, and mutual understanding among colleagues from different countries and institutions.

These moments created a relaxed atmosphere that fostered new relationships and reinforced existing ones, reflecting the collaborative spirit at the heart of MIRRI-ERIC. Adding a touch of fun and team identity to the event, all participants received a pair of exclusive MIRRI-ERIC socks. This small but memorable gesture quickly became a symbol of shared belonging and team spirit across the community.

 

From Strategy to Implementation

The MIRRI-ERIC All Hands Meeting concluded with a shared commitment to transforming ideas into action. Across all sessions, participants emphasised the importance of practical, scalable solutions that can strengthen MIRRI-ERIC's services, quality standards, and international impact.

The outcomes of the meeting provide a clear roadmap for future activities and demonstrate the collective ambition of the MIRRI-ERIC community to build a more connected, visible, and sustainable microbial research infrastructure for Europe and beyond.