MIRRI-ERIC projects featured in European Commission publication on climate resilience

Three research and innovation projects involving the MIRRI-ERIC community have been recognised in the European Commission publication "Research Infrastructures for Climate Resilience: Mapping the European Portfolio Across Climate Risks and Adaptation Pathways", highlighting the growing contribution of microbial research infrastructures to Europe's climate resilience agenda.

The report analyses 38 Horizon-funded Research Infrastructure projects that contribute to strengthening Europe's capacity to understand, anticipate and respond to climate risks. It identifies projects that provide key capabilities in observation, monitoring, modelling and technological validation, supporting the European Union's climate resilience priorities.

Among the selected projects are three initiatives involving the MIRRI-ERIC community:

• Microbes-4-Climate, coordinated by MIRRI-ERIC and involving several of our partners, is recognised for its contribution to the Ecosystems risk cluster, supporting research on the role of microorganisms in climate change and ecosystem resilience;
• MICROBE, in which INRAE, with CIRM - International Centre for Microbial Resources, participate representing MIRRI-ERIC, is also highlighted within the Ecosystems cluster, reflecting the importance of microbial biodiversity and environmental microbiology in understanding climate-related risks;
• AgroServ, with the participation of INRAE, as well as BCCM/MUCL - Agro-food and Environmental Fungi Collection, from the Université Catholique de Louvain, is recognised under the Food Security cluster, demonstrating how research infrastructures support sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems in the face of climate change.

Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of Microbes-4-Climate (M4C), the Horizon Europe project coordinated by MIRRI-ERIC. By bringing together leading European research infrastructures and microbiology experts, M4C is developing an integrated framework to unlock the potential of microbial resources for climate action. The project's recognition in the European Commission publication highlights the growing importance of microbial research in understanding ecosystem responses to climate change and in supporting evidence-based adaptation strategies. As the only project in the report coordinated by MIRRI-ERIC, M4C demonstrates the organisation's leadership in advancing collaborative European research infrastructures that address some of today's most pressing environmental challenges.

The publication also places AgroServ and MICROBE among the research infrastructures that strengthen Europe's observation and monitoring capacities.

Overall, the report concludes that European Research Infrastructures have developed into a mature and interconnected ecosystem that provides essential scientific knowledge, data services and modelling capabilities for climate resilience. It highlights the need to connect existing infrastructures further and maximise their impact through collaboration, interoperability and wider access.

The recognition of these three projects reflects the important role of microbial research infrastructures in addressing global challenges. By advancing knowledge of microbial diversity and its applications across environmental and agricultural systems, the MIRRI-ERIC community continues to contribute to European research excellence and to the development of evidence-based solutions for climate resilience.