“Securing and exploring microbial biodiversity for a sustainable and healthy future”.
Dear Culture Collections Community
It is my great pleasure to invite you to the ECCO XLIII meeting “Securing and exploring microbial biodiversity for a sustainable and healthy future” which takes place in Utrecht, Netherlands, from the 15-17.09.2025. The meeting will cover all aspects of microbial culture collections, including preservation, legal aspects, and exploration of microorganisms for a sustainable future of our planet. As the host organization of ECCO XLIII we are looking forward to welcoming you in Utrecht for an exciting exchange of knowledge amongst culture collection specialists and microbiologists.
Kind regards
Wieland Meyer
Director Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute.
We also invite you to take part in the Social event. This will include a historic tour through one of the most important castles in the history of the Netherlands, followed by a conference diner on site. Both are included in the registration fee.
Scientific Commitee
- Rosa Aznar (Head CECT, Spain)
- Jakob Blæsbjerg Hoof (Curator IBT, Denmark)
- Wouter De Schamphelaire (Curator confidential collections & Service manager BCCM/Genecorner, Belgium; Secretary, ECCO Board)
- Marizeth Groenewald (Yeast Curator CBS Collection WI-KNAW, the Netherlands)
- Raquel Hurtado-Ortiz (Head CNCM (IDA) Institute Pasteur, France; Collection Officer, ECCO Board)
- Nelson Lima (Head MUM, Portugal; past ECCO President)
- Olga Matantseva (Curator CCAC, Germany)
- Wieland Meyer (Director WI-KNAW, the Netherlands)
- David Novotny (Head VURV, Czech Agrifood Research Center, Czech Republic; IT Officer, ECCO Board)
- Meriem Paris (Head of the CIP, France)
- Matthew Ryan (Research lead, Biological Resources, CABI, United Kingdom)
- Ivo Sedláček (Head CCM, Czech Republic)
- Cristina Varese (Curator MUT, Italy; Scientific Officer, ECCO Board)
- Gerard Verkley (Curator CBS & NCCB Collections WI-KNAW, the Netherlands; President, ECCO Board)
Local Organizing Committee
- Marian Figge
- Marizeth Groenewald
- Margarita Hernandez-Restrepo
- Melanie van der Merwe
- Gerard Verkley
ECCO Meeting Grants
Young scientists who want to participate in ECCO annual meetings can apply for financial support by ECCO. Grants will cover the full registration fee for the meeting, and in addition provide support for travel and/or accommodation costs up to a maximum of € 200 per grantee.
Who can apply for a grant?
Undergraduates, PhD students and early career postdocs working at or affiliated with a microbial biological resource centre (mBRC), including non-ECCO member culture collections. Tenure staff of collections are not eligible.
How can I apply for a grant?
Applicants should send their abstract, their CV and a recommendation letter from their mBRC manager to the secretary of the ECCO board (wouter.deschamphelaire@ugent.be)
If I get a grant, how will I be reimbursed?
ECCO will pay your registration fee directly to the meeting organisers. During or after the meeting, you can provide the treasurer of the ECCO Board with proof of travel and/or accommodation costs made (copy of original tickets or invoices). These costs will be reimbursed up to a maximum of € 200
