INFRAFRONTIER ERIC

Their core work

INFRAFRONTIER ERIC is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium that provides access to mouse and rat model resources for biomedical research, including mutant mouse archives, phenotyping services, and associated data. Based in Neuherberg (near Munich), it operates as a distributed infrastructure coordinating national nodes across Europe. Within H2020, INFRAFRONTIER contributed to research infrastructure governance, training programmes for infrastructure managers, rare disease research through shared data and model access, and initiatives to increase research infrastructure visibility toward industry and international partners.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 participation (2015–2018), INFRAFRONTIER focused on internal capacity building — training infrastructure leaders and managers, developing competency profiles, and supporting rare disease data sharing under FAIR principles. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted outward: strengthening the ERIC governance model, building visibility toward industry and third countries, and brokering partnerships beyond the traditional academic community. This trajectory shows a maturing infrastructure moving from operational readiness to strategic outreach and sustainability.

INFRAFRONTIER is actively seeking industry partnerships and international collaboration beyond Europe, making them increasingly open to applied and commercial engagement.

How they like to work

INFRAFRONTIER participates exclusively as a partner — never as coordinator — which is typical for ERICs that contribute specialized infrastructure resources to larger consortium efforts. With 186 unique partners across 35 countries, they operate within very large consortia (averaging 45+ partners per project). This means they are well-connected and experienced at working within complex multi-national projects, but potential collaborators should expect them as a contributing resource provider rather than a project driver.

With 186 unique consortium partners spanning 35 countries, INFRAFRONTIER has one of the broadest collaboration networks relative to its project count — a direct result of participating in very large pan-European infrastructure and health consortia. Their reach is truly pan-European with extensions toward third countries.

What sets them apart

INFRAFRONTIER is one of the few ERIC-status research infrastructures dedicated to mammalian model organisms, giving it a unique legal and operational standing in European research. For anyone needing access to curated mouse models, phenotyping pipelines, or FAIR-compliant biological data, INFRAFRONTIER is a natural entry point. Their dual focus on rare diseases and industry outreach also makes them a distinctive bridge between fundamental biomedical research and translational applications.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EJP RD
  Largest funding share (EUR 191K) and most ambitious scope — a European Joint Programme tackling rare diseases with FAIR data, omics, and patient empowerment across a massive consortium.
• RI-VIS
  Directly focused on expanding research infrastructure visibility toward industry and third countries — signals INFRAFRONTIER's strategic push toward commercial and international partnerships.