Organisation and governance of the envisaged MIRRI-ERIC
The consortium of the MIRRI Preparatory Phase partners decided to establish the Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (MIRRI-ERIC).
The documents prepared for the initiation of the ERIC application can be accessed here:
MIRRI-ERIC Statutes
MIRRI-ERIC Partner Charter
MIRRI-ERIC Short Finance Plan
MIRRI-ERIC Contingency Plan
MIRRI-ERIC Rules of Operation (under work)
MIRRI-ERIC Policies
As negotiations with national representatives are ongoing, the above documents have to be considered as tentative.
Organisational structure
The envisaged MIRRI-ERIC is built around the Central Coordinating Unit (CCU) that serves as the executive management office; the Executive Director is localised here.
Each country being a Member State to the MIRRI-ERIC has to establish a National Node that serves as a hub for the national network of microbial domain Biological Resource Centres (mBRCs) and other partners. The National Node with its own national legal structure is led by a designated National Coordinator; the coordinators of all National Nodes build the National Node Coordinators Forum, one of the operative tools of MIRRI-ERIC.
Governance structure
The slim governance structure of MIRRI-ERIC has the following elements:
The Assembly of Members is the decision-making body of MIRRI-ERIC and will be composed of delegates of all Members and Observers of MIRRI-ERIC. It shall decide collectively about the strategic developments and governance of MIRRI as a research infrastructure. The Assembly of Members is entitled to implement further bodies if required. Further responsibilities are defined in the MIRRI-ERIC Statutes.
The Advisory Board shall periodically evaluate the activities of MIRRI-ERIC and shall also advise the Assembly of Members with regard to proposals of the Executive Director on the implementation of the MIRRI-ERIC Work Program. It will be an independent body of distinguished scientists or experts in the fields of science, ethics and business appointed in their own right and reflecting the relevant application areas of MIRRI-ERIC.
The Executive Director is the legal representative of MIRRI. He/She will lead and administrate the MIRRI legal entity including the Central Coordinating Unit (CCU), which is the central executive management office for the MIRRI-ERIC. The Executive Director will be assisted in performing his/her managerial functions by staff of the CCU. Detailed responsibilities are defined in the MIRRI-ERIC Statutes.
The operative level of MIRRI-ERIC is built by the National Coordinators Forum and the mBRC Directors Forum.
The National Coordinators Forum consists of all National Coordinators of MIRRI-ERIC. This Forum shall implement the directions and decisions taken by the Assembly of Members, as well as the counsel from the Advisory Board, at the level of the Partners and their national institutions. One of its members will be appointed as Chair, being the main contact person for the Executive Director in terms of reporting National Nodes’ activities.
The mBRC Directors Forum consists of all directors of the signatory Partner-mBRCs of MIRRI-ERIC. This Forum shall support the Executive Director and the Partner-mBRCs to elaborate and implement the annual Work Plan with regards to the MIRRI-ERIC Policies. One of its members will be appointed as Chair, being the main contact person for the Executive Director in terms of reporting partners’ activities.