Workshop on Synergies and Overlaps between ESFRI ERICs, RIs and perspective RIs

On 11 March 2025, the PRO-GRACE project hosted an online workshop titled ‘Synergies and overlaps between ESFRI ERICs, Research Infrastructures, and perspective Research Infrastructure.’

The event brought together representatives from PRO-GRACE, EMPHASIS, BBMRI-ERIC, DISSCO, ELIXIR, MetroFood, AnaEE-ERIC, LifeWatch-ERIC, and MIRRI-ERIC, engaging participants in discussions on collaboration opportunities, shared challenges and strategic alignments across European Research Infrastructures.

The online workshop began with an overview of the GRACE initiative, which focuses on conserving and enhancing plant genetic resources. BBMRI-ERIC introduced its expansive biobanking network and its ongoing transition toward a data-centered infrastructure. DiSSCo RI highlighted its efforts to digitize and standardize natural science collections across Europe, while ELIXIR RI emphasized its life sciences data services, particularly their relevance to  biodiversity and food security.

METROFOOD RI outlined its integrated approach to enhance food quality and safety through both physical and digital infrastructures. EMPHASIS RI showcased its support for plant phenotyping tools and their interoperability with other experimental plant science platforms. The IN-SYLVA initiative proposed a new infrastructure dedicated to monitoring and managing forest ecosystems in the face of global change. AnaEE-ERIC, a pan-European experimental ecology network, demonstrated its capacity to simulate climate impacts on ecosystems and inform sustainable land use strategies. LifeWatch and MIRRI-ERIC illustrated their contributions through virtual research environments and microbial resource services, respectively.

The workshop concluded with a discussion highlighting the critical importance of collaboration and data interoperability. Participants also reflected on the challenges posed by the bureaucratic nature of European research infrastructures and the need to strike a balance between scientific priorities and political decision-making.