MIRRI-PT partner MUM celebrates 30 years of advancing microbial biodiversity and innovation

In 2026, the Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM), a MIRRI-ERIC partner through the Portuguese National Node, celebrates its 30^th anniversary, marking three decades of scientific excellence, innovation, and service to the global microbiology community. Since its establishment in 1996 at the University of Minho (UMinho), MUM has grown from a university fungal culture collection into an internationally recognised Biological Resource Centre (BRC), supporting research, education, innovation, and industry through the collection, preservation, characterisation, and distribution of microbial resources.

MUM has continuously expanded its scientific and technological capabilities to meet the evolving needs of researchers and industry. Alongside its extensive microbial collection, the centre integrates state-of-the-art technologies, including genomics, proteomics, MALDI-TOF MS, FT-IR spectroscopy, UPLC-MS/MS, and digital platforms such as MALDIBANK, strengthening access to high-quality microbial data and services.

 

Quality recognition

Over the past three decades, MUM has established itself as an active contributor to the international microbial resource infrastructure. Its participation in organisations and initiatives such as WFCC, ECCO, MIRRI-ERIC, and MIRRI-PT reflects its commitment to collaboration, standardisation, and open access to microbial resources. This commitment is further demonstrated by its recognition as an International Depositary Authority (IDA) under the Budapest Treaty and its ISO 9001:2015 certification, ensuring high standards of quality and reliability.

Looking to the future, MUM is reinforcing its role at the intersection of microbial biodiversity, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, climate change, the circular bioeconomy, and sustainable biotechnology. Through European initiatives including Microbes-4-Climate and MIRRI-FIRM, MUM is contributing to the development of innovative solutions that transform microbial diversity into knowledge, technologies, and applications with societal and industrial impact. By integrating technological and societal readiness, the centre aims to ensure that scientific discoveries translate into responsible and widely adopted innovations.

As MUM celebrates its 30^th anniversary, it honours the achievements of the past while reaffirming its vision of "a world in which fungal diversity is preserved and available for all". The anniversary also provides an opportunity to recognise the researchers, collaborators, partners, and users who have contributed to MUM's journey and to look ahead to the next generation of microbial resource science.

 

This text was prepared in collaboration with Nelson Lima (MUM-UMinho).