MIRRI-ERIC with key participation at the ERIC Forum Annual Meeting 2025

MIRRI-ERIC participated in the ERIC Forum Annual Meeting 2025, held on 12 and 13 November at the Club University Foundation, in Brussels. The annual gathering brought together already established ERICs, some others in preparation, policymakers and representatives from key European institutions, offering a timely opportunity to reflect on shared priorities, strengthen collaboration and contribute to shaping the future of the European Research Infrastructure landscape.

The event facilitated constructive discussions on the strategic direction of research infrastructures within the next EU Framework Programme and the evolving Multiannual Financial Framework. Over two days, participants engaged in meaningful and forward-looking conversations about policy development, sustainability and the long-term competitiveness of European Research Infrastructures. There was a strong recognition of RIs as essential assets for European scientific excellence, innovation leadership and strategic autonomy.

 

MIRRI-ERIC's contribution to the high-level policy panel

A pivotal moment for MIRRI-ERIC was the participation of its Executive Director, Ana Portugal Melo, in the high-level panel dedicated to exploring key topics for Research Infrastructures in FP10, side by side with Allen Weeks (General Director ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC), Jean-David Malo (Acting Director DG RTD), Sergej Možina (Counsellor for Research), José Luis Martinez Peña (ESFRI - European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures Chair), and Lilli Freda (Executive Director European Plate Observing System ERIC).

Speaking alongside senior representatives from the European Commission, Member State delegations, ESFRI and fellow ERICs, she highlighted the crucial contribution of microbial resources and services to European research excellence and the bioeconomy.

Ana Portugal Melo emphasised the importance of ensuring that life-science infrastructures remain robust, accessible and strategically aligned with European priorities. Her participation reinforced MIRRI-ERIC’s visibility within the ERIC Forum and demonstrated its commitment to helping shape future policy and funding frameworks guiding the work of ERICs across Europe.

 

Transition in ERIC Forum leadership

The meeting also marked an important leadership transition. Bonnie Wolff-Boenisch, Executive Director of CESSDA ERIC, was elected Chair of the ERIC Forum Executive Board, with Eija Juurola, Director General of ACTRIS ERIC, elected as Vice-Chair. Their election follows two consecutive terms of dedicated leadership by Antje Keppler, of Euro-BioImaging. The new Executive Board will guide the Forum into its next strategic phase, helping the ERIC community navigate emerging policy developments and strengthen its collective impact.

Across all sessions, participants highlighted the strength of the ERIC community and the value of collective action. Exchanges covered topics such as sustainability, access models, industry engagement, FAIR data practices and the role of ERICs in Europe’s broader scientific and innovation strategies. The discussions reaffirmed that ERICs offer unique capabilities for coherence, interoperability and shared expertise within Europe’s research ecosystem.

This year’s Annual Meeting introduced a renewed interactive structure with three workshops presenting the progress of the ERIC Forum 2 project. These sessions explored themes such as the ERIC Regulation and operational models for distributed infrastructures, European policy priorities for ERICs and the development of a future reporting platform aimed at improving efficiency and harmonisation. A poster exhibition complemented the workshops, offering a comprehensive view of activities across all Work Packages. It provided an open space for sharing achievements, exchanging best practices and reinforcing collaboration between ERICs working across diverse scientific domains.

 

MIRRI-ERIC’s Commitment to the ERIC Community

For MIRRI-ERIC, participation in the Annual Meeting reaffirmed its role as an active contributor to the ERIC Forum and to the broader European Research Infrastructure community. The event offered valuable opportunities to engage in high-level policy discussions, explore new synergies and reinforce MIRRI-ERIC’s mission to support microbial biodiversity, enable bioinnovation and generate impact for both science and society.

As the ERIC Forum enters a new chapter under its newly elected leadership, MIRRI-ERIC looks forward to continuing its active engagement, promoting shared strategies, and contributing to collective European efforts aimed at strengthening the research infrastructure landscape.