Research infrastructures
European research infrastructures (RIs) are facilities or platforms (including virtual ones) that provide the scientific community with the resources and services needed to conduct high-quality research in their respective fields, through the sharing of equipment, access to laboratories, collections, databases, computing systems, communication networks, know-how, and expertise. RIs can be single-site (geographically located at a single site or a few complementary sites) or distributed (i.e., consisting of a central hub and interconnected national nodes with a common access policy).
Here is the list of European research infrastructures of which the University is a member listed by subject area:
Health & Food
BBMRI.it
BBMRI.it is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure BBMRI-ERIC (Biobanking and BioMolecular Resources Research Infrastructure). BBMRI.it connects biobanks, biological resource centres, and collections across Italy, providing access to biological samples and biomolecular data for biomedical research. The infrastructure supports high-quality clinical and translational studies and promotes the use of shared standards and best practices in the management of samples and data. The University of Bologna collaborates with BBMRI.it through the Italian Network on Core Facilities (NICo).
ELIXIR-IT
ELIXIR-IT is the Italian node of the European infrastructure ELIXIR, with centers distributed across the national territory. It brings together Italian researchers in the field of bioinformatics, promoting the exchange and development of skills, and integrates Italian resources recognized at the international level and publicly accessible, contributing to their connection with the European infrastructure.
EMBRC-IT
EMBRC-IT is the Italian node of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) research infrastructure, an international network dedicated to the study of marine biodiversity and ocean ecosystems. Through research, exploration, and scientific collaboration, it contributes to advancing knowledge of life in the seas, understanding the pressures that threaten its balance, and promoting innovative solutions for the sustainable use of marine resources. The University participates in this initiative through the National Inter-University Consortium for Marine Sciences (CONISMA).
EPTRI
The European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (EPTRI) is a European research infrastructure that brings together multiple research units organised into thematic platforms and national nodes. It is a collaborative network that enables researchers to work together across geographical and institutional boundaries. EPTRI supports the transition from research findings to clinical applications in paediatrics, contributing to the development of new medicines for children.
IBISBA-IT
IBISBA-IT is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure IBISBA (Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator). As a Joint Research Unit (JRU), it brings together universities and research institutions to support Italian research in Industrial Biotechnology. The initiative focuses on Synthetic Biology, Green Chemistry, Sustainable Bioenergy, and Functional Food, promoting collaboration, innovation, and training while contributing to the development of sustainable biotechnological solutions.
MIRRI-IT
MIRRI-IT is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure MIRRI-ERIC (Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium). MIRRI-IT overcomes fragmentation in access to microbial resources and related services by improving collection management systems and aligning activities with the needs of stakeholders in the biotechnological sector. By integrating microbial resources, digital infrastructures, and scientific expertise, MIRRI-IT supports research, services, innovation, and technology transfer based on microbial diversity, promoting the development of new biotechnological applications.
PHEN ITALY
Phen‑Italy, the Italian node of the European infrastructure EMPHASIS coordinated by the CNR, brings together universities, public research organizations, and public–private consortia in a national network dedicated to plant phenotyping research and infrastructure. It develops advanced platforms accessible to the European scientific community, supporting research for sustainable agriculture and food security. It coordinates high‑throughput phenotyping activities on strategic crops and provides access to the only high‑throughput infrastructure and dedicated aerial fleet for monitoring agroecosystems in Italy and Southern Europe.
Social & Cultural Innovation
CLARIN-IT
CLARIN-IT is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure CLARIN (Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure). CLARIN provides easy and sustainable access to a wide range of digital language data and advanced tools to support research in the humanities and social sciences. The distributed network connects universities, research centres, libraries, and public archives across Europe, allowing data and tools from different centres to be combined. Members can access all resources with a single sign-on, and many are available in open access for both the scientific community and other interested users.
GUIDE.IT
GUIDE.IT is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure GUIDE (Growing Up in Digital Europe: EuroCohort). GUIDE is a European research infrastructure that provides a collaborative platform for the social sciences and humanities. It supports the international research community in studying the well-being of children and young people, helping to address key societal challenges. In particular, GUIDE is developing a longitudinal European study that collects data over time on the quality of life of young people, from childhood up to the age of 24.
OPERAS.it
OPERAS.it is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure Open Scholarly Communication in the European Research Area for Social Sciences and Humanities (OPERAS). OPERAS develops a catalog of academic communication services at the European level, identified by the research community as essential; these services, managed by OPERAS members, pool, aggregate, or federate existing resources across Europe to provide a single transnational access point for researchers and are gradually being integrated into the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
Enviroment
DiSSCo-IT
DiSSCo.IT is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure Distributed System of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo). DiSSCo is a research infrastructure dedicated to natural science collections. Its goal is to create a digitally unified model for all European natural science assets, sharing access, management, policies, and practices across countries while ensuring that data comply with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). By mobilising and harmonising collection data, DiSSCo provides a crucial knowledge base for research.
EPOS-IT
EPOS-IT is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure EPOS (European Plate Observing System), established through a collaboration between public research institutions, universities, and consortia. Its aim is to support the Italian scientific community in integrating its data and services within the field of solid Earth sciences. EPOS Italy also promotes the development of new national infrastructures and encourages the adoption of open science.
Energy
ECCSEL
ECCSEL is a European research infrastructure focused on CO₂ capture, utilisation, transport and storage, as well as geothermal energy and subsurface energy storage. It is a distributed and integrated network that connects scientific facilities and national nodes across Europe. ECCSEL provides open access to more than 150 world-class research facilities, supporting research on energy and climate technologies.
Data/Computing
SoBigData.it
SoBigData-IT is the Italian node of the European research infrastructure SoBigData (Social Mining & Big Data Analytics). SoBigData provides data, services, methods, tools, and training materials for Data Science, promoting research in line with ethical, legal, and social (ELSEC) principles as well as FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and FACT (Fair, Accurate, Confidential, Transparent) standards. The infrastructure supports advanced analysis of big data for artificial intelligence and social mining, enabling innovative and sustainable research at both national and European levels.