MIRRI-IT is the Italian node of
MIRRI-ERIC, the Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure — European Research Infrastructure Consortium. It aims to overcome fragmentation
in the availability of microbial resources and services by improving the quality‑management system of microbial collections and aligning activities with the needs of stakeholders
involved in the biotechnological exploitation of these resources.
What we do
By integrating microbial resources, digital infrastructures and scientific expertise, MIRRI-IT enables research, services, innovative solutions, and technological transfer based on microbial diversity, driving new biotechnological applications.
Environment
Microbial solutions for ecosystem functionality and resilience:
- biodegradation
- biomaterials
- bioremediation
- biosurveillance
- soil/plant/aquatic microbiomes
- sustainable agriculture
Health & Food
Microbes for safe and innovative health and food systems:
- fermentation & starters
- food production
- food safety
- novel foods
- pathogen detection
- pharmaceutical biodiscovery & solutions
- probiotics
Data, Computing & Digital Research Infrastructures
Data-driven microbiology and standardisation:
- databases
- genomics/metagenomics
- microbiome analytics
- standards & metadata
- workflows
What we provide
MIRRI-IT offers a single entry-point to the Italian integrated catalogue of high-quality Microbial Resources. Our digital catalogue, openly available though MIRRI-IT website, provides access to more than 43.000 strains of filamentous fungi, bacteria, yeast, microalgae, and plant viruses. Our catalogue is dynamic, evolving as new resources are added and updated!
Services
MIRRI-IT provides more than access to microbial resources: we enable research, services and ready-to-use solutions for academia, public bodies and industry supporting the full pathway from strains and microbiomes to data, testing and applications.
Training
MIRRI-IT supports users not only with services and resources, but also with hands-on training to build skills and enable innovation. It offers:
- Courses and workshops
- Tailored training courses
- Facilitated access to the Research Infrastructure: TNA (Trans-National Access) to facilities, technologies, and expertise for selected projects
Why microbes?
Microbes are ubiquitous in the biosphere and fundamental to the functioning of all ecosystems.
Microbes regulate biogeochemical cycles and organic matter recycling.
Microbes sustain soil and sediment structure, their fertility, and support productivity in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Microbes constitute essential microbiomes vital for plant, animal, and human health.
Microbes play a central role in climate regulation, agriculture, food systems, and environmental resilience.
More than 90% of microbial biodiversity remains undiscovered: a huge opportunity for science, industry and the bioeconomy.
History
In 2017, the joint research unit (JRU) MIRRI-IT was established through a formal agreement among five partners, later joined by 25 other institutions. The JRU is a stable, collaborative group of universities and research institutions with common scientific goals that conducts research projects together and pools resources and equipment.
In 2025, Italy became a member of MIRRI-ERIC, the Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure — European Research Infrastructure Consortium, and officially constituted MIRRI-IT. By offering access to a wide array of harmonised, high-quality microbial resources and services in full legal compliance, MIRRI-ERIC accelerates research and innovation in biosciences and the bioindustry. MIRRI-IT, through its 5 full partners, coordinates microbial research and biotechnological innovation through the Italian node.
Governance
MIRRI-IT JRU offers a double level entry option for joining Institutions. This allows full collaboration, harmonized and synergistic growth of the network, and guarantees the quality of the Node.
- Full partners: they formally constitute the MIRRI-IT National Node. They fulfil all the criteria fixed by the JRU to comply with MIRRI-ERIC requests and to guarantee high quality and management standards, and service provision. Currently, they are the 5 Institutions that signed the JRU agreement and serve as official partners.
- Associate members: organizations associated with JRU MIRRI-IT that may apply to become Partners, subject to verification of minimum requirements and approval by the General Assembly.
