The IM has facilities (laboratories BSL1, BSL2 and BSL3) in Mendrisio, Bellinzona and Trevano in which employees are able to carry out research and offer services and training in the areas of biosafety, environmental hygiene, the fight against vectors of pathogens, microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology. The service activity is carried out on behalf of the Canton Ticino and other national and international partners. Thanks to the basic research in microbiology, the technical and scientific competences are continuously updated in favor of projects in applied microbiology that can thus take advantage of the most up-to-date methodologies for the analysis of classical microbiology, molecular microbiology and proteomics.
In this perspective, the IM offers itself as a support to all activities involving microorganisms both within SUPSI and in the territory.
The collaborators are actively involved in training. The IM regularly hosts students coming from Swiss and foreign universities, offering them a scientific and logistic framework for the realization of semester, diploma (Bachelor and Master) or PhD works. The IM also plays a role in professional training (apprenticeship) and as a support to the upper middle level (high school and business school) in the field of microbiology. With the foundation Centro Biologia Alpina di Piora (http://www.cadagno.ch/), the IM organizes courses in collaboration with university and cantonal institutes, promoting academic and research synergies in the wonderful setting of the Piora valley.