1. Setting up an ERIC
11 May 2012
Richard Derksen

2. Topics What is an ERIC Requirements relating to the infrastructure
Organisation of an ERIC
Required documents for an application
Process leading up to an ERIC
National procedure for hosting an ERIC
Practical experiences

3. What is an ERIC
A legal entity set up under EU-law to establish and operate a research infrastructure on a non-economic basis
“To establish and operate” ≠ to own
Distributed facilities need to be sufficiently coordinated to qualify as an “organised network of resources”
Commission: ERIC framework can be used for existing RI that consider it to be useful to change their legal status and to become an ERIC
Members and observers can only be countries or intergovernmental organisations, minimal 3 EU-Member States required
Public entities or private entities with public service mission can represent a member / observer

4. Requirements relating to the infrastructure
To become an ERIC the infrastructure must meet the following requirements
Deemed necessary to carry out European research programmes
Represent an added value in the strengthening and structuring of the ERA and a significant improvement in scientific and technological field at international level
Grant effective access to the European research community
Contribute to mobility of knowlegde and/or researchers within the ERA
Contribute to the dissemination and optimisation of the results

5. Organisation of an ERIC
Required bodies:
Assembly of members as the ultimate decisions making body
Director of board of directors as the executive body and legal representative
Other bodies (not limited):
Scientific advisory body
Board of national coordinators / directors
Committee for technical / operational centres
Support office (headquarters)

6. Required documents for an application
Technical and Scientific description (about 10 pages; focus on requirements)
Proposed Statutes
Agreement between the members of the ERIC on the limits and conditions of the tax exemptions (can be part of the Statutes)
Declaration by host country recognising the ERIC as an international body in the sense of the VAT and excise duty directives as of its setting up
Request letter from the host country plus request letters from the founding members (needed for the formal application, step 2)
Recognition of the ERIC by non EU-Member States and Intergovernmental organisations that what to become member of the ERIC

7. Timeline for the set up of EATRIS ERIC
Governmental Meetings
13/ / /05
Submission of application to Commission (Step 1)
1 June
Verification of compliance with ERIC Regulation by Commission, assisted by independent experts
Results communicated to applicants
June- end September
Submission of signed request to set up the ERIC (Step 2)
End December
Internal consultation
Consultation of the ERIC Committee
Jan – April 2013
Commission decision
Publication in Official Journal
April 2013
EATRIS ERIC established
April 2013

8. National procedure (the Netherlands)
Roles of the Ministries of Science, Finance and Foreign Affairs
Science: facilitates and coordinates application process but only upon request from the science community (and only if national funding is in place)
Foreign Affairs: ERIC is not an international treaty organisation so no formal involvement
Finance: signs VAT-declaration if NL is host / approves VAT agreement upon request from the Ministry of Science
Role of Parliament
Ministry of Science informs Parliament when NL becomes host or member
No approval or ratification procedure

9. Practical experiences
You need four parties to act together: the scientific community; the research council / funding agency; the ministry and DG RTD
Make it active for countries to join as founders:
Fix the contribution for the first 5 years so countries know what to pay.
Let countries join with a financial commitment for less than 5 years …but at a higher fee; refund the extra fee if they do stay the full five years.
Be pragmatic when a country is not willing or able to become member: offer observership or set up bilateral agreements with interested institutes
Some governments are still getting used to the ERIC formula:
National procedures differ from country to country.
Funding schemes may still be “project oriented” and may not include membership fees.
Membership contribution model main obstacle when setting up an ERIC.

10. Thank you
Questions ?