The aim behind ISMIRRI_21 project was to implement and to secure the long-term sustainability of the pan‑European Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI). Consequently, ISMIRRI_21 entirely fulfilled its role in creating innovation and societal value through the preservation, study, provision and valorisation of microbial resources and biodiversity.
Microbes are essential for life on Earth. Also, they have historically been used by humankind for its benefit (e.g. in food processing and preservation) and, in today’s world, microbial resources are and will continue to be an invaluable asset for bioindustries and the bioeconomy. Microbes are the source of or are used for the production of the following: sustainable, nutritious, and safe food and feed products; innovative medicines and therapeutic solutions, such as vaccines and antibiotics; renewable, biobased chemicals and materials, including biopesticides and biofertilizers that are safe, effective alternatives to harmful chemical substances, as well as clean, advanced biofuels. Microbes are used in the biological management of agricultural soils and crops, in processing and upgrading residues, side-streams and organic wastes, and in the bioremediation of polluted sites or contaminated effluents. Microbes play a key role in the functioning of ecosystems, contributing to healthy and fertile soils, to clean water, and to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
The preservation and provision of microbial resources for research, biotechnological and bioindustrial purposes greatly relies on microbial Biological Resource Centres (mBRCs) and culture collections (CCs), which are therefore an essential part of the infrastructure underpinning biotechnology and the bioeconomy. MIRRI brings together a variety of 50+ of these top-level mBRCs, CCs and research institutes, from 10 countries (excluding Russia).
IS_MIRRI21 set up, successfully tested, and launched a centralized, user-friendly webportal – Collaborative Work Environment (CWE), www.mirri.org – to integrate and make accessible the entire MIRRI offer. All in a single-entry point to microbial resources and associated data, services, expertise, education and training. The ever-increasing knowledge flow has been transferred and will continue to be conveyed to users via “Expert Clusters”, including fora, covering topics such as legal/regulatory issues, applications in biotechnologies/bioindustries, etc. ISMIRRI_21 promoted cross-disciplinary and Industry-Academia research collaboration through a successful transnational access (TNA) programme with 53 out of 60 possible accesses and major offers granted and implemented in the different labs and infrastructures. Society also directly benefitted from ISMIRRI_21, which had sought to raise citizens’ awareness on the benefits of microbes and microbial collections for the bioeconomy and society. Schools and students benefitted from educational materials, namely informative videos, and events.
To deliver the most value from MIRRI’s operation to its users/stakeholders, while assuring its long-term sustainability, tailor-made business model and business plan were established, with proper attention given to enlargement of the membership/partnership to further countries/organisations.
Finally, IS_MIRRI21 was key to implement MIRRI as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), a legal status acquired with the efforts of project beneficiaries among others, as well as to position it in the European Research Area (ERA) and, in particular, in the ESFRI Roadmap, where its position as a landmark in ESFRI Roadmap in the “Health & Food” domain and the connections with other domains were also further strengthened.
