MIRRI inaugurated its new headquarters

On 14 December 2022, MIRRI inaugurated its new headquarters premises, located at the campus of Gualtar of the University of Minho, in Braga, Portugal.

The inauguration ceremony started with interventions by the IS_MIRRI21 Project Coordinator and MIRRI-PT Coordinator, Nelson Lima, the Executive  Director of MIRRI, Luís Soares, the Chair of the MIRRI Assembly of Members, Marleen Bosschaerts, the Mayor of Braga, Ricardo Rio, the Rector of the University of Minho, Rui Vieira de Castro, the President of the Foundation for Science and Technology, Madalena Alves, and Portugal Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato.

The ceremony later proceeded with the unveiling of the inauguration plaques of the MIRRI-ERIC Headquarters.

Microbial biobanks in Italy launch a €17M project to strengthen their activities in line with the country’s participation in MIRRI-ERIC

The project “Strengthening the MIRRI Italian Research Infrastructure for Sustainable Bioscience and Bioeconomy” (SUS-MIRRI.IT) is launched on 14 November 2022, as part of the actions oriented towards Italy’s membership (The country is currently a prospective Member) of MIRRI-ERIC.

Read the full news realease here.

MIRRI showcased its offer of microbial resources and services at two major events

MIRRI has participated in the EU Bioeconomy Conference and in the International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI 2022), which took place on 6-7 and 19-21 October 2022, respectively.

In both participations, MIRRI had a virtual showcase space featuring its activities and several of its offers to the Bioscience and the Bioindustry communities, including:

 – MIRRI Microbial Resources & Data;

 – MIRRI Microbial-Related General Services & Application-Specific Services;

 – MIRRI’s Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda 2021-2030;

 – Becoming a MIRRI Member/Observer/Partner.

MIRRI and USCCN enhance their cooperation to promote the valorisation of microbial resources and innovation in biotechnology

MIRRI and the United States Culture Collection Network (USCCN) announced today the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen, promote and enhance their cooperation to support research and innovation in biotechnology, life sciences and microbial resources utilisation.

Read the joint news releases here.

MIRRI receives the MIRRI-ERIC plate from the European Commission at ICRI 2022

On 21 October 2022, MIRRI received from the European Commission (EC) the MIRRI-ERIC plate, which signifies the formal recogniton of its European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) status. The handling of the MIRRI-ERIC plate follows up the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1204, of 16 June 2022, setting up MIRRI-ERIC (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2022/1204/oj).

The ceremony took place during the International Conference on Research Infrastructures, ICRI 2022, in Brno, Czech Republic.

The plate was handed over by Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General at the EC’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and by Francisco Colomer, Chair of the ERIC Forum.

Receiving the plate, on behalf of MIRRI, was Marta Abrantes, from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and one of Portugal’s Delegate Assembly Members.

On the occasion, Marta Abrantes said that “receiving the ERIC plate marks a significant moment for MIRRI, but also for Portugal, since the country now hosts, for the first time, the statutory seat of an ERIC. Moreover, this recognition also highlights the role of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology in supporting research infrastructures of strategic interest that sustain scientific and technological advancements and strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem”.

The MIRRI-ERIC plate will be unveiled during the inauguration ceremony, to take place soon, of the new headquarter premises of MIRRI-ERIC, located at the University of Minho, in Braga.

MIRRI receives its ERIC plate from the European Commission

On 21 October 2022, MIRRI receives from the European Commission (EC) the MIRRI-ERIC plate, which signifies the formal recogniton of its European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) status.

The ceremony takes place during the International Conference on Research Infrastructures, ICRI 2022, in Brno, Czech Republic.

The plate is handed over by Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General at the EC’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and by Francisco Colomer, Chair of the ERIC Forum.

Receiving the plate, on behalf of MIRRI, is Marta Coelho Abrantes, from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

Read the full news release here.

MIRRI granted the ERIC status by the European Commission

Braga (Portugal) and Valencia (Spain), 13 July 2022 – On 16 June 2022, the Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI), the pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure for the preservation, systematic investigation, provision and valorisation of microbial resources and biodiversity, has been granted the legal status of European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) by the European Commission (EC).
MIRRI thus becomes the 24th ERIC established since the very first one in 2011.

Read the full press release here.

Important information to MIRRI users about limitations on the access to resources/services in connection with entities located in the Russian Federation

In line with the positions of the European Commission and the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, MIRRI informs its user communities that, until further notice, requests for accessing resources/services provided by MIRRI partner organisations located in the Russian Federation will not be considered. Moreover, requests submitted to MIRRI by user based in the Russian Federation or in the Republic of Belarus for accessing resources/services provided by MIRRI and/or any of its partner organisations will also not be considered.

MIRRI joins the voices of all who are calling for peace, mutual understanding and tolerance. MIRRI promotes scientific excellence beyond all national boundaries, but this is only possible in a context of peaceful cooperation banning all forms of violence.