Corrosion caused by microorganisms is a global problem. In Europe, the research landscape has been very fragmented to date. The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is now coordinating a new research network that aims to promote interdisciplinary exchange. It will receive financial support over the next four years from the European funding organization COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology).
Corrosion caused by microorganisms - MIC for short - causes billions of euros worth of damage worldwide every year. Materials of all kinds are affected: metals, plastics and even concrete. The consequences can be seen in important energy supply infrastructure such as wind turbines, pipelines and turbines, but also in bridges, port facilities, the tanks of ships and airplanes and countless everyday objects.
To date, MIC has only been researched very sporadically in Europe and there is a lack of exchange between industry and academia. There is also often a lack of an interdisciplinary approach - which would be necessary given the breadth of the topic and the numerous areas affected by MIC. Especially as experts assume that global warming will encourage the spread of MIC and further impair the lifespan of materials in the future.
Andrea Koerdt from the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and Torben Lund Skovhus from VIA University College in Aarhus, Denmark, have therefore launched the Euro-MIC network. It is supported by the European funding organization COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology). COST promotes the creation of international networks and aims to provide impetus for research progress and innovation.
"The funding from COST is a great support for our project," says Andrea Koerdt. "With Euro-MIC, we want to bundle the often fragmented research work in Europe, create an interdisciplinary and collaborative network, promote exchange between academia and industry and develop prevention methods against MIC."
"Interdisciplinary research into MIC is a key focus at BAM," says BAM President Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne. "I am delighted that this approach is now being extended to the European context and far beyond. Research and industry can only benefit from this."
Almost 100 institutions from 33 countries are involved in Euro-MIC, from Norway to Greece and Portugal to Cyprus. In addition to the 24 COST member states, associated countries such as Brazil, Australia, India, Singapore, Japan, Tunisia and the USA are also represented, as well as scientists from disciplines as diverse as materials science, physics, chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, geology and environmental sciences.
Euro-MIC is organized into five working groups on overarching topics, including the development of a common terminology, research into diagnostic methods, the monitoring of MIC and the search for effective counter-strategies. Online courses, workshops, summer schools, conferences and citizen science projects are planned over the next four years.
