METROFOOD-IT at the Meeting of Research Infrastructure Managers of the PNRR

Research communication and internationalization, economic management models, open science, standardization of performance indices, funding to ensure service continuity, identification of stakeholders, and the role of the Research Infrastructure Manager (RIM): these are some of the topics that were addressed during the meeting held in Rome in recent days. The event brought together 33 managers of various Italian research infrastructures funded by the EU and the PNRR, promoted by major research institutions and universities in Italy. METROFOOD-IT also participated in the event, with its manager Sofia Ingrosso, sharing the Consortium’s experience over the past months of activity.
The objectives of the meeting were to concretely open up research using innovative organizational models and methodologies, as well as to rethink research services from a managerial perspective. The aim was to provide insights for the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) to use in formulating future strategies and programs.

Achieving these challenges relies on the Infrastructure Manager, a role strongly advocated by the Council of the European Union. The Infrastructure Manager is tasked with guiding innovation through pervasive access to the integrated research system—and infrastructures in particular—engaging businesses, students, citizens, researchers, and policymakers. They provide data, models, and analyses for the disruptive development of research in socio-economic, biomedical, environmental, agro-food, energy, social sciences, and cultural heritage fields, but more broadly, the scientific culture in Italy.
In the coming months, the work will involve integrating the experiences gained so far with international best practices to redesign the research infrastructure services offering as a "scientific, economic, and social heritage" of the national system. This aims to create a single access point (one-stop-shop) to Italian Research Infrastructures, making them sustainable and resilient in the long term, serving the community.