EMbaRC2

Microorganisms are an infinite source for innovation, able to provide solutions to some of the big global challenges of today. High quality research needs access to high quality biological resources and associated data. Microbial domain Biological Resource Centres (mBRCs) aim to secure microbial resources for research in life sciences and to support the search for interesting properties to be applied in health, sustainable agriculture, agronomy, food security, environment and biotechnology in general contributing to further economic growth offering a societal and ecological value. They are the professional means to provide certified and traceable biological materials, offer expertise and numerous valuable facilities to data mine associated data sets to assist research and accelerate the discovery of new products and stimulate innovative microbial solutions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This proposal focuses on building a digital infrastructure and a searchable database by connecting public European mBRCs, SMEs and start-ups. It provides the potential for accelerating commercial applications in R&D, with the consequent income streams and international market positioning. Resulting revenue lines should increase the chances of self-financing, provide resources to invest in enhancing the infrastructure and thus enable the long-term sustainability of the network. It aims to deliver an added value (linked to the involvement of industry and a better exploitation of the data generated by the mBRCs) to knowledge and technology to users of leading European mBRCs to enhance implementation of ideas on innovation and to accelerate discovery by providing expanded access to key microbial expertise and tools. The EMbaRC project (FP7-CP-CSA-INFRA, No. 228310, 2009) delivered protocols and best practices, such as the quality manual deliverable, to improve the management and operation of mBRCs, improved access to a broader range and to better characterised microbial resources and expertise whilst enhancing user/provider interactions and by working with the scientific community thanks to the transnational access offer, for example. A key outcome was the recognition of the responsibilities of scientists, editors, and the European mBRCs themselves to continuously improve the coverage and preservation of biodiversity. Based upon decades-long collaboration and the results of the EMbaRC project, European mBRCs have laid the foundations for this INFRAIA project for Advanced Communities. This new project, EMbaRC 2, will ensure long term sustainability of products, services and added value by strengthen the involvement of the bio industry, to explore appropriate synergies with other ESFRI projects and to exploit better the huge amounts of data already stored. EMbaRC 2 would provide a key step towards enhancing innovation in microbial biotechnology. Strategies and policies for coordinated interactions among mBRCs and between mBRCs and their user clientele from the academic, environment and research sector were developed within the ESFRI MIRRI project (www.mirri.org 2012-2016). These processes are yet to be fully exploited, therefore it is the aim of EMbaRC 2 to enhance and fully utilize participation of the private sector. The approach outlined offers access to a highly visible pool of high quality facilities, tools, improved databases and services to match ongoing activities in other European Research Infrastructures (www.esfri.eu/roadmap-2016). The microbial component of this domain will include information about services, expert knowledge and facilities and will allow users to choose the appropriate research environment for their research. Integrated approaches and procedures across partner institutions would monitor the socio-economic impact of mBRCs. EMbaRC 2 will take steps to link microbial resource holders with researchers and innovators to facilitate cooperation and transfer of knowledge across Europe and beyond.