WHO WE ARE

The Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure — European Research Infrastructure Consortium (MIRRI-ERIC) is the European distributed Research Infrastructure for the preservation, systematic investigation, provision, and valorisation of microbial resources and biodiversity. It was established by the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1204 of 16 June 2022.

By offering access to a wide array of harmonised, world-class microbial resources, data, and services in full legal compliance, MIRRI-ERIC accelerates European research, innovation and competitiveness in biosciences and bioindustry. This encompasses a vision of a greener, healthier, and more sustainable world.

MIRRI-ERIC brings together 47 microbial domain Biological Resource Centres (mBRCs), culture collections, and research institutes, from eight European Member States: Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, and Spain — Members — and Romania — Observer.

This Research Infrastructure connects an unparalleled collection of over 180,000 high-quality microbial resources from across Europe in the Catalogue of Microbial Resources and Data. It includes bacteria, archaea, filamentous fungi, yeasts, microalgae and viruses.

Based on the state-of-the-art facilities, advanced equipment, and top-level expertise of its partner organisations, MIRRI-ERIC offers users a broad and diverse portfolio of high-quality services. These services are organised into two main resources: the General Services Catalogue and the Application-Specific Services Catalogue. In addition, users can access the Training and Education Gateway and the Expert Clusters Gateway through MIRRI-ERIC’s Collaborative Working Environment (CWE).

ESFRI Roadmap

MIRRI-ERIC has integrated the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Roadmap since 2010 and was recognised as a "Landmark" in 2021. On 16 June 2022, the European Commission granted MIRRI the ERIC legal status through Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1204. It was founded by Belgium, France, Latvia, Portugal, and Spain, and later joined by Greece, Italy, and Romania (observer).

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) defines the European Roadmap for research infrastructures and drives their implementation. It is a strategic instrument for developing the scientific integration of Europe and strengthening its international outreach. The competitive and open access to high-quality Research Infrastructures supports and benchmarks the quality of the activities of European scientists and attracts the best researchers from around the world.

Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda

High-quality bioscience research and innovative bioindustries are key contributors to tackling global societal challenges today and in the future, towards a green, healthy, and sustainable world. MIRRI-ERIC strives to achieve these goals, placing its strategic focus, for the decade ahead, on a selected group of socioeconomically relevant areas. Get a closer look at MIRRI-ERIC's vision of the future with the Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda 2021-2030.

Overview of MIRRI-ERIC's Services

To achieve its goals, MIRRI-ERIC aligns the resources, capabilities, and expertise of its partners with global and European strategic agendas. These include the UN Sustainable Development Goals, EU Horizon Europe with its Clusters, Missions and Partnerships, the ESFRI Roadmap, Strategy Report and Landscape Analysis, and the national and regional Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) of its member countries.

Our history at a glance

MIRRI-ERIC's history started long ago, in 2010, with the entry of MIRRI to the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Roadmap. Between then and 2020, MIRRI went through a Preparatory Phase and the process of becoming an ERIC.

In 2020, started the implementation phase with the project "IS_MIRRI21 – Implementation and Sustainability of Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure for 21st Century" (grant agreement no. 871129), coordinated by University of Minho MUM Culture Collection, and comprising 14 partners distributed by 10 countries – Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Neatherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, and Spain.

MIRRI-ERIC was granted ERIC legal status in 2022 and began its Operational Phase in 2023.

Brief history timeline of MIRRI-ERIC