DiSSCo Prepare Milestone report MS7.2 - Analysis of the legal entity models and their suitability for achieving DiSSCo objectives

Abstract

As an aspiring world-class research infrastructure DiSSCo needs to develop within a very well defined and stable organisational framework. During the current preparatory phase, an interim governance model has been put in place, aiming mainly at ensuring a correct alignment and use of synergies amongst all the projects shaping the future of DiSSCo. As part of these efforts, a dedicated work package (WP7) of the H2020 DiSSCo Prepare project aims at uplifting the organisational aspects to their highest implementation readiness level. In this context the present milestone explores the various legal entity models that DiSSCo could adopt to secure its sustainability. First the main characteristics of six legal entity models are documented and analysed. From this analysis the most suitable models are short-listed, reducing the choice to three possible candidates: an International Organization, an ERIC or an AISBL. Then a detailed, comparative, analysis is performed. Based on this study, we make the proposal to consider establishing DiSSCo as an ERIC as the best option, taking into account that adequate mechanisms need to be implemented to allow a prominent role for CETAF.