CoSMi distributes its strains to internal staff or colleagues from other institutions for scientific collaboration (LEGITIMATE EXCHANGE) and to external organisations in the public sector (research centres, universities, etc.) or private sector (commercial companies).

Please contact the collection at cosmi@ogs.it, specifying the required biological material and completing the relevant forms: Request for Biological Material and Acceptance of Responsibility.

Once the collection has accepted the request, the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) prepared by the collection must be signed. This document governs the ownership and exploitation rights of the biological material; by signing it, the applicant agrees not to claim either ownership or industrial exploitation rights.

If the microorganisms are ordered for commercial exploitation, the applicant must sign an MTA specifically drafted and agreed with the collection. Furthermore, any benefits arising from such exploitation must be shared with the strain’s country of origin, in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure these obligations are met.

Once the MTA has been signed by both parties, the strains will be supplied in active growth in liquid medium, following a minimum waiting period of two weeks from the formalisation of the request.