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EnglishWhat is BCCM (bccm.belspo.be)?
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BCCM stands for the Belgian Coordinated Collections of Micro-organisms. It is a consortium of microbial resource centres operating under the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO), and its website at bccm.belspo.be serves as the central entry point to those collections and their associated services. If you are a researcher, a biotechnology company, or anyone who needs authenticated microbial strains, associated data, or related scientific services, BCCM is the Belgian public infrastructure for that purpose.
What BCCM actually is
BCCM is not a single laboratory but a coordinated network. It brings together several specialised culture collections, each focused on particular groups of organisms, under one common framework managed within BELSPO. This structure means that when you approach BCCM, you are accessing a federation of collections rather than one isolated strain bank.
The core idea is preservation and access: BCCM maintains biological material (micro-organisms and, depending on the collection, other biological resources) in a viable, quality-controlled state, and makes that material available to the scientific and industrial community.
What the website offers
The site functions as a gateway to the consortium's resources. In practical terms, its main purposes are:
- Strain catalogues — searchable listings of the micro-organisms held across the participating collections, with associated metadata.
- Supply of biological material — the mechanism for requesting and obtaining strains for research or industrial use.
- Deposit services — pathways for researchers to deposit strains, including for patent-related purposes where applicable.
- Data and expertise — taxonomic, identification, and characterisation information linked to the holdings.
- Scientific services — identification, preservation, and related microbiological services offered by the centres.
Because the collections are specialised, the exact catalogue and service set depend on which constituent collection you are dealing with. The website is the coordination layer that helps you find the right one.
Who it is for
| User type | Typical need |
|---|---|
| Academic researchers | Obtain authenticated strains; deposit new isolates |
| Biotechnology and industry | Source well-characterised micro-organisms for R&D or production |
| Culture collection staff | Coordinate with a national network; follow common standards |
| Patent applicants | Deposit strains under recognised procedures |
How to use it
- Identify your organism group. Since BCCM is a consortium, the relevant collection depends on what you are working with.
- Search the catalogue through the website to check whether the strain or species you need is held.
- Follow the ordering or deposit procedure specified for that collection, including any material transfer or documentation requirements.
- Confirm terms directly — availability, pricing, shipping conditions, and any restrictions are set by the individual collections and are not something to assume from the site's general description.
Key points to keep in mind
- BCCM operates under BELSPO, the Belgian federal science policy body, which gives it a public-research character rather than a purely commercial one.
- It is a coordinated network, so the practical details (catalogue, services, conditions) vary by collection.
- The website is best treated as a starting point for discovery, with specific transactions and terms handled by the relevant centre.
If your goal is simply to understand the organisation, the short answer is: BCCM is Belgium's coordinated public network of microbial resource centres, and bccm.belspo.be is where you find and access them. If your goal is to obtain or deposit a strain, go to the catalogue and the specific collection's procedures next.