On 21 October 2022, MIRRI received from the European Commission (EC) the MIRRI-ERIC plate, which signifies the formal recogniton of its European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) status. The handling of the MIRRI-ERIC plate follows up the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1204, of 16 June 2022, setting up MIRRI-ERIC (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2022/1204/oj).

The ceremony took place during the International Conference on Research Infrastructures, ICRI 2022, in Brno, Czech Republic.

The plate was handed over by Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General at the EC’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and by Francisco Colomer, Chair of the ERIC Forum.

Receiving the plate, on behalf of MIRRI, was Marta Abrantes, from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and one of Portugal’s Delegate Assembly Members.

On the occasion, Marta Abrantes said that “receiving the ERIC plate marks a significant moment for MIRRI, but also for Portugal, since the country now hosts, for the first time, the statutory seat of an ERIC. Moreover, this recognition also highlights the role of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology in supporting research infrastructures of strategic interest that sustain scientific and technological advancements and strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem”.

The MIRRI-ERIC plate will be unveiled during the inauguration ceremony, to take place soon, of the new headquarter premises of MIRRI-ERIC, located at the University of Minho, in Braga.