Report on the proposed organisation, governance and legal structure of ISBE

ISBE published its business plan at the end of July 2015, which sets out the long term proposed organisation, governance and legal structure of ISBE to be implemented as it establishes itself as a legal entity from 2018 onwards. This report sets out the steps taken to develop this proposed structure and determine its suitability for providing the most appropriate framework for ISBE to operate as a sustainable transnational research infrastructure. In developing this structure, ISBE WP11 consulted with a broad range of representatives from national ministries and funding agencies.

The first step in establishing the long term structure was to develop a set of guiding principles that were endorsed by the ISBE steering committee. WP11 then drew on best practice from across the ESFRI Research Infrastructures, both planned and in place, to develop the structure presented.

We believe that the resultant model provides a viable mechanism for ensuring suitable overview by member states supporting it, together with involvement of researchers providing the resources, services and activities for the community. The structure also provides a robust way of ensuring independent advice, most notably in assessing and monitoring institutions that will deliver the operational activities for ISBE.

Finally, the model sets out a modest but efficient executive function that can ensure coordination of operations, development of strategic direction and most crucially, the outreach needed to expand the breadth of provision being set out for ISBE