D6.3 - MoU and SLA templates for data interoperability

This deliverable, produced by Work Package 6 (interoperability) of the FAIR-IMPACT project, examines how MoUs and SLAs could promote data interoperability within the EOSC Federation.

In the context of EOSC, data interoperability depends on all four interoperability dimensions: Legal, Organisational, Semantic and Technical. Research data repositories, as intermediaries between data producers (researchers) and data users, are identified in this deliverable as central to establishing and maintaining data interoperability as a service (section 3.1).

SLAs and MoUs should be used as tools to enhance all levels of interoperability. An SLA is a written document that defines the expected level of service and outlines specific metrics, responsibilities and remedies to ensure accountability between service providers and users / customers. Conversely, an MoU is an agreement between parties that outlines their mutual intentions, roles and shared objectives, creating legally binding obligations (may be very limited effects) for parties. These agreements can enable more user-centred and efficient service and process development. Including data interoperability in relevant documents or if feasible writing separate documents would be important to take interoperability forward.

While both types of agreements clearly enhance organisational interoperability by enabling stakeholders to align business processes towards common goals, there is currently a significant gap in accessing and harmonising all the guidelines to support interoperability in the legal, semantic and technical dimensions. Today, the evolving EOSC federation lacks a robust, community-endorsed framework for systematically describing and enforcing data interoperability, highlighting the need for such guidelines.

Given this lack of compliance to common standards, the considerable diversity of service providers (with over 500 providers registered in the previous EOSC portal) and the EOSC's transition to a federation, the provision of standard templates for agreements is premature. A fundamental step before developing agreements is to assess the capacity of the organisations involved to inform the development of effective agreements.

Rather than providing agreement templates, this deliverable proposes recommendations and guidelines to help service providers self-assess their capabilities and thus enable them to design agreements that are appropriate to their specific capabilities. The guidelines in the appendices support the development of SLAs and MoUs for data interoperability by providing structured recommendations that offer both a model for drafting agreements and the flexibility to adapt to different contexts.