D2.2: New PRACE Relationships with other Entities

This deliverable shows the results of the analysis regarding the legal aspects of specific PRACE collaborations developed beyond the originally designed channels. In particular, the team of task 2.2 in the PRACE-3IP project tackles the legal aspects regarding the collaborations with industry and Small and Medium Enterprises, the collaboration with other EU projects, and the relationship with third parties to access PRACE Intellectual Property Rights. Moreover, this document covers the results of the work undertaken concerning the direct legal support provided for PRACE AISBL in the process of establishing its bodies, such as Industrial Advisory Committee and Scientific Steering Committee. For most of the cases covered in this deliverable the analysis is based on the formulation of legal questions related to the named topics, and evaluation of answers provided by the legal advisor firm Bird & Bird LLP assisting PRACE.
Within the scope of the collaborations with industry and Small and Medium Enterprises, this deliverable draws a comparison of the legal aspects of some of the most representing HPC-industry support models in Europe. Furthermore, it covers the analysis of the legal aspects for deploying the SMEs HPC Adoption Programme for Europe (SHAPE). Task 2.2 worked closely with the Work Package 5 in PRACE-3IP in order to identify and clarify all the important legal aspects related to this new initiative addressing the needs of the European SMEs in the area of HPC. One of the key aspects important to clarify before starting the SHAPE pilot was the one referring to the state aid regulations. Task 2.2 investigated also with the help of the external legal experts the possible future implementation of the pre-competitive model and the future organisational structure of PRACE AISBL in case of engaging in commercial activities.
The deliverable also shows results on the analysis done to find an appropriate way to award PRACE resources to European Commission funded projects that require HPC. Task 2.2 analysed the current situation within PRACE and concentrated on the different potential routes of PRACE future EU collaborations. In this context, the Transnational Access funding programme and the Centres of Excellence as potential future EU collaborations have been investigated. In order to give a wider overview of this topic, best practices of other international Research Infrastructures have been reviewed.
The third and the last part of this deliverable shows the results regarding the analysis of the IPR framework within PRACE. During the years that PRACE projects and infrastructure have been operating, a set of potentially IPR-protectable elements have been generated. The advice of the working group to the Association has been to consider the regulation of the IPR for these elements and in any case to have an overall view of IPR for future developments. This section provides the result of the analysis made for a set of key elements identified.