ISME | International Society for Microbial Ecology

What ISME | International Society for Microbial Ecology does

ISME (International Society for Microbial Ecology) is a non-profit scientific society founded in 1977 and headquartered in Wageningen, Netherlands, dedicated to advancing the field of microbial ecology. It serves a global community of researchers through three peer-reviewed journals — The ISME Journal, ISME Communications, and ISME Host Microbe — published in partnership with Oxford University Press, a biennial international symposium series (1,500-2,500 delegates), and an ambassador network spanning more than 80 countries. The society also runs a portfolio of scientific awards (Jim Tiedje, Winogradsky, Alma Dal Co, IWA/ISME BioCluster, Tom Brock, Bill Costerton, David C. White) and grant programs (General Sponsorship Fund, Regional Meeting Fund, Scholar Mobility Fund, Travel Grants, Primary Caregiver Grant, Ambassador Fund) that support career development across the discipline.

Its core technical outputs are the journals and the symposium infrastructure, both of which serve as the field's primary venues for dissemination and professional recognition. The society is also a backer of the SeqCode initiative, a community-driven nomenclature framework for DNA-based taxonomy of uncultivated microorganisms, and partners with the Genomic Standards Consortium and the International Water Association to extend standards and recognition into adjacent subfields. Governance is provided by an international board with executive leadership.

Revenue is generated from a tiered individual membership model (Regular €75/2 years, Student €50/2 years, Emeritus €50/2 years, Developing Country €50), journal article processing charges distributed via Oxford University Press (with a 10% member discount), symposium registration fees and sponsorship/exhibitor revenue, and a €30K General Sponsorship Fund that supports the ambassador network. The organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees based in the Netherlands.

Name

ISME | International Society for Microbial Ecology

Legal name

International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME)

Website

https://isme-microbes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ISME (International Society for Microbial Ecology) is a non-profit scientific society founded in 1977 that serves the global microbial ecology research community through three peer-reviewed journals, biennial international symposia, and an ambassador network spanning more than 80 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Scientific Society

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbiome & Metagenomics Services (HLAGANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Microbiome Analytics, Sequencing & Bioinformatics Platforms (HLAAAFAI), Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAJ)

Keywords

• Microbial ecology society
• Scientific conferences
• Peer-reviewed journals
• Research grants funding
• Academic membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Wageningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues providing access to publications discounts, symposium registration discounts, eligibility to apply for grants and funding, voting rights, and access to the ISME online membership directory. Membership is valid for two years.
2. ISME Publications: The ISME Journal, ISME Communications, and ISME Host Microbe generate revenue through Article Processing Charges (APCs). ISME members receive 10% discount on APCs. Royalties are reinvested into the society and membership.
3. Symposium Registrations: Biennial ISME Symposia attract 1500-2500 delegates who pay registration fees. Reduced fees are available for ISME members. The symposium rotates globally (Europe, North America, Asia/Oceania, South America/Africa).
4. Sponsorship and Exhibitor Revenue: ISME20 in Auckland has various sponsorship opportunities including Tourism New Zealand, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Minderoo Foundation, Zymo Research as Bronze Sponsor, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Oxford University Press, KBase, JGI, and Applied Microbiology International.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISME is a non-profit international membership society for microbial ecologists. It operates a portfolio of peer-reviewed publications (The ISME Journal, ISME Communications, ISME Host Microbe), biennial international symposia and regional meetings, awards programs (Jim Tiedje, Winogradsky, Alma Dal Co, IWA/ISME BioCluster, Tom Brock, Bill Costerton, David C. White), and funding schemes (General Sponsorship Fund, Ambassador Fund, Regional Meeting Fund, Scholar Mobility Fund, Travel Grants, Primary Caregiver Grant). The society also stewards the SeqCode initiative for naming uncultivated microorganisms, supports an Early Career Scientist Committee, and runs a global Ambassador Program across 80+ countries.

Product overview

ISME (International Society for Microbial Ecology) is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to advancing microbial ecology through a portfolio of peer-reviewed publications (The ISME Journal, ISME Communications, and ISME Host Microbe), international conference programming (biennial ISME Symposia and regional meetings), awards and recognition programs (Jim Tiedje Award, Winogradsky Award, Alma Dal Co Award, IWA/ISME BioCluster Awards, and symposium awards including Tom Brock, Bill Costerton, and David C. White), and funding schemes (General Sponsorship Fund, Ambassador Fund, Regional Meeting Fund, Scholar Mobility Fund, Travel Grants, and Primary Caregiver Grant). The society also supports the SeqCode Initiative for naming uncultivated microorganisms, maintains an Early Career Scientist Committee, and operates a global Ambassador Program network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The ISME Journal: Official peer-reviewed journal of the society
• ISME Communications
• ISME Host Microbe

Products and services

• The ISME Journal The official flagship peer-reviewed journal of ISME, publishing high-impact research in microbial ecology across environmental, medical, and biotechnological fields. Published with Oxford University Press.
• ISME Communications An official peer-reviewed publication of ISME providing rapid publication of microbial ecology research with open access options. Published with Oxford University Press.
• ISME Host Microbe An official ISME publication focusing on the interactions between hosts and their associated microorganisms. Published with Oxford University Press.
• ISME Biennial Symposia Biennial international conferences bringing together microbial ecologists worldwide, attracting 1500-2500 delegates. The 20th symposium (ISME20) is scheduled for Auckland, New Zealand in August 2026, returning to the location of the founding symposium.
• ISME Regional Meetings Regional events organized by ISME Ambassadors in regions outside the USA, Canada, and Western Europe, including ISME-Latin America, ISME-Africa, ISME-Southeast Asia, ISME-Eastern Europe, and ISME-Middle East. Supported by Regional Meeting Fund.
• Jim Tiedje Award An ISME award recognizing outstanding lifetime contributions to microbial ecology. Nominees must be still active in the field for at least 30 years.
• Winogradsky Award An ISME award recognizing scientists who have substantially advanced the field of microbial ecology through novel techniques, ecology theories, and new disciplines. Nominees must be active researchers 10-25 years post PhD.
• Alma Dal Co Award An ISME award recognizing early career microbial ecologists who have made significant contributions to the field. Nominees must be no more than 10 years post PhD.
• IWA/ISME BioCluster Awards Awards jointly administered with the International Water Association honoring scientists whose internationally recognised research links microbiology and engineering in water and wastewater treatment. Includes Grand Prize and Rising Star Prize categories.
• Tom Brock Award Symposium award acknowledging accomplishments and promise of outstanding postdoctoral research associates at ISME Symposia, based on scientific accomplishments, innovation, and clarity of presentation.
• Bill Costerton Award A symposium award recognizing research involving new theories in microbial ecology and wider interdisciplinary significance, selected from Early Career Researcher Poster Award winners.
• David C. White Award A symposium award stimulating and honoring innovative thinking in students, selected from Early Career Researcher Poster Award winners. Honors the power of quantitative analytical chemistry to microbial ecology.
• General Sponsorship Fund Annual funding of 30,000 EUR to sponsor events and educational efforts dedicated to Microbial Ecology, accessible to members and for special projects initiated by the ISME Office and Executive Board.
• Ambassador Fund Sponsorship of up to 1,000 EUR per year available to individual ISME Ambassadors for promotional materials, websites, and regional Microbial Ecology events.
• Regional Meeting Fund A 100,000 EUR fund supporting regional events dedicated to Microbial Ecology organized by ISME Ambassadors in non-Western regions, typically contributing up to 30,000 EUR per event.
• Scholar Mobility Fund Funding supporting travel for MSc/PhD students and postdoctoral fellows to advance microbial ecology research, training, and collaboration internationally at host institutions outside their country of study. Awards typically range from 2,000 to 3,000 euros, up to 5,000 euros with justification.
• Travel Grant Fund Funding supporting travel for MSc/PhD students and postdocs to attend the biennial ISME Symposium, with maximum awards of 800 EUR and a total budget of approximately 50,000 EUR per symposium.
• Primary Caregiver Grant Support for ISME members with primary caregiving responsibilities to attend and present at ISME Symposia, providing up to 500 EUR for domestic travel and 1,500 EUR for international travel.
• SeqCode Initiative A code of nomenclature based on using DNA sequence as the type information for naming uncultivated Archaea and Bacteria, including the SeqCode Registry online portal. Published September 2022 in Nature Microbiology. Addresses that over 50% of microbial phyla lack cultured representatives for formal naming under ICNP.
• Early Career Scientist Committee (ECSC) A committee supporting, connecting, and empowering early career researchers in microbial ecology worldwide through organizing ECS-targeted events, mentorship programs, panel discussions, reviewer pool initiatives, and training activities.
• ISME Ambassador Program A global network of ISME Ambassadors representing 80+ countries and regions worldwide who promote ISME and the development of microbial ecology at national levels, organize regional meetings, and support early career development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Biennial symposia attract 1500-2500 delegates from around the world
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSC maintains the MIxS Standards (Minimum Information about [x] Sequence) for metadata alongside genomic data. ISME collaborates on GSC26 meeting in Rotorua, New Zealand (12-14 August 2026) preceding ISME20, with shared interest in genomic standards and microbial nomenclature.
• International Water Association (IWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIWA and ISME jointly award the IWA/ISME BioCluster Awards recognizing scientists linking microbiology and engineering in water and wastewater treatment. Two prizes awarded: Grand Prize and Rising Star Prize, presented at IWA World Water Congress.
• Oxford University PresscoreTechnology or IntegrationOxford University Press serves as publisher for ISME Journals including The ISME Journal, ISME Communications, and ISME Host Microbe. Handles manuscript submission, peer review coordination, and APC collection with ISME members receiving 10% discount.
• Tourism New Zealand and Tātaki Auckland UnlimitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors and partners for ISME20 in Auckland, New Zealand (August 2026). Supporting venue, local logistics, and promoting the symposium to attract delegates to New Zealand.
• Minderoo FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMentorship programme sponsor for ISME20, supporting ECS mentoring activities and networking events at the symposium.
• Faculty of Science and School of Biological Sciences, University of AucklandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner and Travel Grant Sponsor for ISME20, supporting delegates' attendance at the symposium in Auckland.
• ISME Regional Meeting PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with regional societies for ISME-Lat (Latin America), MikroBioKosmos Society/CEESME (Europe), CAMA/ISME-Asia Forum (China), ISME-Africa (Morocco) to deliver regional meetings with ECS activities, mentoring, and networking.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Geophysical Union (AGU): AGU is a large international scientific society publishing numerous journals and hosting major conferences (e.g., AGU Fall Meeting with 25,000+ attendees). ISME Board Member Kelly Wrighton is an AGU fellow, and the two organizations share complementary scientific communities (microbial biogeochemistry).
• International Water Association (IWA): IWA is a global water sector organization that jointly awards the IWA/ISME BioCluster Awards with ISME. IWA covers water and wastewater treatment broadly, while ISME represents the microbial ecology specialty within this domain, making them complementary partners and partial peers.
• European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO): EMBO is a European organization of life sciences excellence that funds researchers, publishes journals, and runs programs. EMBO shares ISME's non-profit, member-driven model and overlap with molecular microbial ecology research, though operating at a broader life sciences scale.
• American Society for Microbiology (ASM): ASM is the largest professional microbiology society with 30,000+ members, publishing multiple journals, hosting large conferences (ASM Microbe), and offering grants and awards. ASM operates as a broad incumbent in microbial sciences, while ISME is the specialized leader in microbial ecology specifically.
• British Ecological Society (BES): BES is the oldest ecological society in the world, publishing journals, hosting conferences, and providing grants and policy advocacy. BES is a structural peer to ISME in the adjacent ecology field, with comparable membership-based, publication-driven, and grant-funded business model.

Direct peers

• Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM): SfAM is a UK-based microbiology society that publishes journals, offers grants, awards, and events for applied microbiologists. Like ISME, SfAM combines peer-reviewed publications with member benefits, funding programs, and global outreach to advance microbiology.
• Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS): FEMS is a federation of European microbiology societies that publishes journals, hosts congresses, and supports grants and early-career scientists. FEMS shares ISME's structure and member-based model, with overlapping scope in microbial ecology and aligned mission to advance microbiology across Europe.
• Applied Microbiology International (AMI): AMI is a microbiology society that publishes journals, supports events, and serves members globally. AMI is a sponsor of ISME20 (via sister organization relationships) and operates as a comparable professional society in the broader microbiology ecosystem.

Others

• International Society for Microbial Ecology - SeqCode Registry: The SeqCode Registry is an ISME-affiliated initiative for registering names of uncultivated microorganisms. It functions as a specialized database/community platform, similar in some respects to taxonomic authorities but operated alongside ISME's broader society activities.

Emerging players

• Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC): GSC maintains the MIxS Standards for genomic metadata and is a strategic partner of ISME (GSC26 co-located with ISME20 in 2026). GSC is a specialized, smaller-scale consortium focused on standards-setting, comparable to ISME's SeqCode initiative in addressing nomenclature and metadata gaps.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isme-microbes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ISME | International Society for Microbial Ecology