The Spanish Collection of Type Cultures (CECT) held in April at the facilities of the Science Park of the University of Valencia (PCUV) the study visit "Collections of Microorganisms as Research Infrastructures". This visit, organised within the framework of the EU-fundedLAC ResInfra Plus, hosted experts and participants to exchange knowledge on research infrastructures and their impact on science and society and served to strengthen ties between researchers from Europe and Latin America in the field of micro-organisms collections as research infrastructures.
The programme was specifically targeted at personnel managing microbial collections in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, with a view to bringing them closer to good practices in the management of microbial resource centres and encouraging their participation in MIRRI-ERIC (Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure), in order to lay the foundations for future collaborations, facilitate access to European infrastructures and motivate the creation of national MIRRI nodes in the LAC region.
The participants of the study visit "Collections of Microorganisms as Research Infrastructures", organized by the Spanish Collection of Type Cultures (CECT). Photo: FPCUV
Since the organization of the CECT, they value the visit as rewarding, because it "contributed significantly to strengthening the ties of cooperation". During the conference held between 7 and 11 April 2025, participants shared the capacities of their home centres, discussed common challenges, and held an open dialogue that allowed to identify opportunities for collaboration and synergies. The pooling of local realities in each country helped to lay the foundations for long-term networks around microbial collections.
The visit combined training sessions, presentations and tours of the various PCUV facilities. During the week, key aspects of microbial collection management were addressed, including conservation procedures, legal aspects related to deposit and supply of strains (Nagoya Protocol, MTAs and MDAs) and quality management in microbial resource centres. There were also sessions to present the capacities and lines of work of the participating centres, which favoured the exchange of experiences.
As for visits, the program included tours of the facilities of the Spanish Collection of Crops Type, the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), the Institute of Integrative Biology of Systems (I2SysBio), in addition to other facilities of the Science Park, as well as the Botanical Garden of UV. One of the speakers at this meeting was Vicent Clemente, responsible for operations at the Science Park University of Valencia Foundation.
During the visit, the structure and functioning of ESFRI and more specifically MIRRI-ERIC as a pan-European infrastructure was presented, highlighting its role as a hub for microbial, genetic and data resources, and its possibilities to support scientific research at global level.
MIRRI-ERIC (Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium) is a pan-European infrastructure dedicated to the preservation, management and access of high quality microbial resources. Its main objective is to facilitate access to collections of micro-organisms, associated data and specialized services to support research, innovation and technological development in areas such as health, agriculture, environment and industry.
This infrastructure brings together crop collections, research centres and universities from several European countries, providing an integrated and coordinated network of resources and knowledge. Through its digital platform, MIRRI-ERIC provides scientists and industry with a single point of access to thousands of microbial strains, standardised data and bioinformatics tools, thus promoting international collaboration and the responsible use of microbial biodiversity.
MIRRI-ERIC provides scientists and industries with a single point of access to thousands of microbial strains, standardised data and bioinformatics tools, thus promoting international collaboration and the responsible use of microbial biodiversity
Participants also learned about collaboration pathways, infrastructure requirements and options for requesting services or contributing data and resources. Preliminary discussions were held with representatives of several Latin American countries interested in establishing national nodes.
Among the main conclusions that emerged from this EVCC meeting was the need to continue strengthening research infrastructures in the LAC region, promoting the harmonization of management procedures, the quality and sustainability of microbial collections.
The importance of forming national networks and integrating into international networks such as MIRRI-ERIC was also stressed. The motivation of several countries to explore the possibility of establishing national MIRRI nodes was evident throughout the meetings and presentations.
In addition, participation was encouraged in initiatives such as Microbes 4 Climate, a project where researchers can apply for free transnational access to services and facilities within the framework of microbiology and climate change.
The Spanish Collection of Crops Type (CECT) is a scientific infrastructure located in the business area of the PCUV, which acts as the national reference centre for the conservation and supply of microorganisms. Directed by Rosa Aznar, its main function is to preserve pure microbial strains, including bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi, which are used as standard crops in scientific research, industrial, medical, agricultural and educational applications.
The CECT is part of international crop collection networks, such as the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) and the European Culture Collections' Organisation (ECCO), which ensures that its conservation procedures, Identification and distribution meet international quality standards. Each stored strain is appropriately characterized and documented, allowing its traceability and reuse by researchers and companies worldwide.
In addition to its conservation role, the CECT offers scientific and technical services such as micro-organism identification, specialized training and technical assistance. This contributes to the advancement of microbiological knowledge and biotechnological development in Spain and other countries, strengthening the bioeconomy and innovation in strategic sectors that depend on the use of microorganisms.
ResInfraPlus is a project funded by the European Union which seeks to strengthen cooperation between Europe and Latin America in the field of research infrastructures. The project facilitates the integration of scientific capacities, promotes open access to data and encourages thematic networking.
Within the framework of this visit, ResInfraPlus has served as a platform to bring MIRRI-ERIC closer to the countries of the LAC region, foster the exchange of good practices and lay the foundation for future structured collaborations.
Source: CECT and own elaboration