Funding details and duration of the project Funder: Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 3.1 - Call for tender No. 3264 of 28/12/2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU Award Number: Project code IR0000005, Concession Decree No. 114 of 21/06/2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP D13C22001390001, Project title “Strengthening the MIRRI Italian Research Infrastructure for Sustainable Bioscience and Bioeconomy” (SUS-MIRRI.IT) Start date: 01/11/2022 End date: 30/04/2025 Total NRRP funding for the whole project: € 16.949.360 Total NRRP funding for Unipr: € 308.955
Description of the project Objectives Microorganisms and microbiomes are crucial for several research areas and applications. Indeed, they can be harnessed for food or pharmaceuticals production, for agricultural processes and in fighting climate changes. The Italian microbial Biological Resource Centres (mBRCs) took part in the creation of MIRRI —Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure—, a pan-European infrastructure in charge of preservation, analysis, supply and valorisation of microbial resources and biodiversity. The project SUS-MIRRI.IT will develop research, services, and training within the Italian network of culture collections MIRRI-IT. The goal is to increase the bioresources stored, improving their characterization. Furthermore, the optimisation of their management, coupled with an innovative digital platform will lead to further discoveries and innovative solutions. In detail, SUS-MIRRI.IT main goals are to: equipe microbiological MIRRI-IT laboratories with cutting-edge technologies to tackle modern challenges provide useful information by characterizing microbial collections set up operative procedures and quality standards to be implement within MIRRI-IT’s launch the Italian integrated catalogue of microorganisms conceive MIRRI-IT’s services based on partner expertise, capacity building and genetic resources create a platform to promote resources, services, technology, expertise, and knowledge transfer strengthen connections with stakeholders and synergies with other Health & Food RIs in Italy develop plans to assist financial sustainability of MIRRI-IT maximise MIRRI-IT visibility in Italy and abroad create the Italian node of MIRRI-ERIC and contribute to services and data availability Activities The project is divided in 6 work-packages (WP), each one with its own specific focus: WP1 – Management, Governance and Sustainability WP2 – CCs/mBRCs Strengthening WP3 – Platform and Database WP4 – Microbiomes: from Sampling to Exploitation WP5 – Service and Education WP6 – Communication and Dissemination
Role of University of Parma in the project The University of Parma will contribute to the following WP: WP1 – Collaboration activities will be conducted to develop and improve the infrastructure, while monitoring activities and reports WP2 – New culture collections and biological resources will be monitored, improved, and updated with new resources and equipment. WP3 – Data will be processed, tested, and prepared to meet the requirements of the Italian Culture Collections Catalogue and to fit the FAIR data principles WP5 – After handling and analysing survey and questionnaire results, a pilot training course will be organized and refined to provide the best experience for users and stakeholders WP6 – The project’s dissemination will be maximized through updated communication channels, publications, conferences, events, and social media platforms
Partners The SUS-MIRRI.IT project involves 24 operative units (OU) from 15 Italian Universities and research centres: Università degli Studi della Basilicata Università degli Studi di Cagliari Università degli Studi di Genova Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Università degli Studi di Palermo Università degli Studi di Parma Università degli Studi di Perugia Università degli Studi di Sassari Università degli Studi di Torino Università degli Studi di Verona CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche OGS Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale ENEA Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile
Results of the project The expected result is to strengthen the Biological Resource Centers' (mBRCs) culture collections, allowing their exploitation and fostering innovation in the Health, Agro-Food, and Environment domains. In addition, the project will provide further benefits to stakeholders and society, such as: Promoting partnerships to enhance synergies and facilitate the aggregation of skills, structures, and resources Promoting the development of a bio-based economy, contributing to the sustainability and safety of the environment and industrial processes Creating technology transfer actions to convey significant discoveries to industry, promoting contributions to the bioeconomy Disseminating results produced by SUS-MIRRI.IT, allowing society to benefit from discoveries and knowledge transfer
Contacts Prof.ssa Valentina Bernini Delegata alle relazioni con l'america latina T. +39 0521 906527 E. valentina.bernini@unipr.it Go to description about Valentina Bernini Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco W. http://saf.unipr.it Go to description di Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco
