DiSSCo ela ed ou pu
This empla e collec s he equi ed me ada a o e e ence he o icial Deli e ables and Miles ones o
DiSSCo- ela ed p ojec s. Mo e in o ma ion on he manda o y and condi ionally manda o y ields can be
ound in he suppo ing documen 'Me ada a o DiSSCo Knowledge base' ha is sha ed among wo k
package leads, and in Teamwo k > Files. A sho explana o y ex is gi en o all me ada a ields, hus
allowing easy en y o he equi ed in o ma ion. I he e a e any ques ions, please con ac us a
[email p o ec ed].
Ti le
DPP WP4 Ms4.6 "Capi al expendi u e indica o s o he Cos Book" No embe 2021
Au ho (s)
Michel GUIRAUD (MNHN)
Salomé LANDEL (MNHN)
F ançois DUSOULIER (MNHN)
E a PEREZ (MNHN)
Ka ha ine WORLEY (MNHN)
Helen HARDY (NHM)
Iden i ie o he au ho (s)
0000-0003-3125-8947 - Michel GUIRAUD (MNHN)
0000-0001-5360-5693 - Salomé LANDEL (MNHN)
0000-0001-9062-5239 - F ançois DUSOULIER
(MNHN)
0000-0002-5752-5903 - E a PEREZ (MNHN)
0000-0003-2377-6840 - Ka ha ine WORLEY
(MNHN)
0000-0002-9206-8357 - Helen HARDY (NHM)
A ilia ion
Muséum Na ional d'His oi e Na u elle - Pa is
Con ibu o s
Royal Belgian Ins i u e o Na u al Sciences (RBINS -
B ussels)
Agen schap Plane a ium Meise
Senckenbe g Gesellscha ü Na u o schung (SGN
- F ank u )
Na ional His o y Museum (NHM - London)
Conso ium o Eu opean Taxonomic Facili ies
(CETAF)
Na u alis (Leiden)
Publishe
Michel GUIRAUD (MNHN)
Iden i ie o he publishe
0000-0003-3125-8947 - Michel GUIRAUD (MNHN)
Resou ce ID
Publica ion yea
2021
Rela ed iden i ie s
Is i he i s ime you submi his ou come?
Yes
C ea ion da e
02/11/2021
Ve sion
1
Ci a ion
Gui aud M., (e al.). 2021 Miles one epo MS 4.6 "Capi al expendi u e indica o s o he Cos Book"
Abs ac
Miles one 4.6 explo es he commissioning and decommissioning cos s o he DiSSCo esea ch
in as uc u e (RI). This documen opens up a wide ield o e lec ion abou he li e cycle o he
in as uc u e and he connec ions be ween he hub and he nodes. This miles one also s udies he place
o da a p oduc ion cos s co e ed by he membe ins i u ions. This leads o de elop a me hod o classi y
hese cos s and o iden i y hei ole in he cos book o he RI.
Con en keywo ds
inancial
P ojec e e ence
DiSSCo P epa e (GA-871043)
WP numbe
WP4
P ojec ou pu
Miles one epo
Deli e able/miles one numbe
4.6
Dissemina ion le el
Public
Righ s
F ee access
License
A ibu ion 4.0 In e na ional (CC BY 4.0)
Resou ce ype
Tex
Fo ma
PDF
Funding P og amme
H2020-INFRADEV-2019-2
Con ac email
[email p o ec ed]
1
36
DISSCO PREPARE WP4: BUSINESS FRAMEWORK
Miles one 4.6 - Capi al expendi u e indica o s o he Cos Book
DiSSCo P epa e WP4 – Task 4.1 - Miles one 4.6
Wo k package leade : Michel GUIRAUD (MNHN)
Task leade : Muséum na ional d’His oi e Na u elle (MNHN)
Au ho s: Salomé Landel / Michel Gui aud / Ka ha ine Wo ley / E a Pe ez /
F ançois Dusoulie / Helen Ha dy
Con ibu o s: E a Alonso (Na u alis); Ana Casino (CETAF); Pa icia
Me gen, F ede ik Leliae (Meise BG); Ca ole Paleco, Se ge Sco y,
Jona han B ecko, Pa ick Semal (IRSNB); Lau ence Li e mo e, Lisa
F ench (NHM)
2
Abs ac
Key wo ds
Miles one 4.6 explo es he commissioning and decommissioning cos s o he DiSSCo esea ch
in as uc u e (RI). This documen opens up a wide ield o e lec ion abou he li e cycle o he
in as uc u e and he connec ions be ween he hub and he nodes. This miles one also s udies
he place o da a p oduc ion cos s co e ed by he membe ins i u ions. This leads o de elop a
me hod o classi y hese cos s and o iden i y hei ole in he cos book o he RI.
Commissioning, decommissioning, p ese a ion cos s, cos
s uc u e, physical and non-physical asse s, cons uc ion
cos s.
G an Ag eemen numbe : 871043 — DiSSCo P epa e — H2020-INFRADEV-2018-2020 / H2020-INFRADEV-2019-2
3
INDEX
INTRODUCTION 4
1. DiSSCo RI ime ame and ins i u ional pe ime e 5
1.1 The ime ame o he esea ch in as uc u e 5
1.2 The dis ibu ion o componen s and cos s be ween he hub and he nodes 7
1.2.1 Iden i ica ion o expendi u e sou ces 7
1.2.2 The cos es ima ion me hodology 8
1.2.3 Cos classi ica ion: in-kind o cash? 9
2. Wo king op ions o he commissioning and decommissioning cos s o he DiSSCo RI 10
2.1 Cons uc ion cos s o he esea ch in as uc u e 10
2.1.1 Design and p epa a ion: p epa a o y and ansi ion phase 11
2.1.2 Cons uc ion phase 12
2.1.2.1 Physical and non-physical asse s 13
2.1.2.2 Pe sonnel cos s 15
2.1.2.3 Consumables, u ili ies and o he cos s 15
2.1.2.4 S a -up cos s 15
2.1.3 Replacemen cos s 15
2.1.4 Majo upg ades 15
2.2 DiSSCo RI decommissioning cos s 16
3. The cos o p oducing DiSSCo da a o i s membe ins i u ions 17
3.1 P ese a ion cos s as capi al expendi u e: why no ? 18
3.2 Recogni ion o ins i u ional cos s o DiSSCo RI 19
3.3 Cla i ica ion o he scope o WP4 and DiSSCo 21
CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS 22
REFERENCES 23
INDEX ANNEXES 24
4
INTRODUCTION
Miles one 4.6 o WP4 (business amewo k) o he Eu opean p ojec DiSSCo P epa e (DPP) examines
he cos s o commissioning and decommissioning he DiSSCo esea ch in as uc u e (RI). A i s
app oach was o s udy he physical na u e o he RI, i.e. he physical in es men s needed o launch i .
The scope o he ques ion is inally b oade : hese cos s a e bo h angible and in angible in es men s.
The singula i y o DiSSCo RI is ha i alls in o he ca ego y o dis ibu ed i ual esea ch
in as uc u es.
1
A i s sigh , i has low cons uc ion cos s because i is no abou building elescopes,
a pa icle accele a o , an ai lee , (e c.); i is abou p o iding digi al access and acili a ing physical
access o na u al his o y collec ions held all o e Eu ope. I s implemen a ion he e o e depends hea ily
on he in elligence ha will ha e o be mobilised o bo h coo dina e he s akeholde s o he RI and
design he IT ools ha will acili a e access o he ins i u ions' da a.
The RI is composed o one hub
2
and na ional and local nodes. These en i ies a e loca ed in di e en
places/coun ies and wi hin di e en in as uc u es (in he case o DiSSCo, di e en ins i u ions). The
ques ion o how o accoun o he cos s o he RI equi es iden i ying hose o he hub and hose o
he nodes.
Cons uc ion cos s o he DiSSCo RI ques ion a each s age i s pe ime e and he dis ibu ion o
componen s be ween he DiSSCo Hub and he membe ins i u ions (nodes) ha ac i ely pa icipa e in
he smoo h unning o he in as uc u e. Wi hin his miles one, cons uc ion cos s a e pa o he
cons uc ion phase o he DiSSCo ERIC
3
. This means ha he cos s o Na u al his o y ins i u ions a e
mainly eligible o he ope a ional phase bu no he cons uc ion phase. Such assump ion is in line
wi h he idea ha he DiSSCo hub would liaise use s and ope a o s. Na u al his o y ins i u ions as
ope a o s ha e hei own legal s a u es and hei own legal accoun ing sys em. I would inancially be
oo complex o mix bo h.
This miles one can iden i y he issues ha need o be add essed o es ima e he cos s o commissioning
he RI. Howe e , i canno p o ide igu es ha quan i y hese cos s. The p epa a o y phase o DiSSCo,
DiSSCo P epa e, is cu en ly conside ing he se ices ha he RI could o e and he IT in as uc u e
needed o make he na u al his o y collec ions accessible. WP4 will be able o quan i y he in es men s
equi ed o make he RI ope a ional once hese decisions ha e been made.
1
I includes physical access o na u al his o y collec ions bu hese ac i i ies a e p o ided by he ins i u ions.
The RI's ole is ha o acili a o . The cos s o hese se ices will be cha ged by he ins i u ions, as ope a o s, o
he RI. The me hod o cha ging hese se ices has ye o be de eloped.
2
A RI such as DiSSCo could ha e mo e han one hub. This decision has s ill o be conside ed as pa o WP7:
go e nance, policy & legal amewo k. He e, he wo king hypo hesis is ha DiSSCo RI has one hub.
3
Eu opean Resea ch In as uc u e Conso ium: a his s age o DPP, he wo k hypo hesis is ha DiSSCo will be
an ERIC, i is a speci ic legal o m designed by he Eu opean Commission o acili a e he es ablishmen and
ope a ion o Resea ch In as uc u es wi h Eu opean in e es .
5
1. DiSSCo RI ime ame and ins i u ional pe ime e
De ining he cos s o commissioning and decommissioning he DiSSCo esea ch in as uc u e equi es
es ima ing i s du a ion and de ining i s ins i u ional o ganisa ion. A dis ibu ed esea ch in as uc u e
has he cha ac e is ic o exis h ough mul iple en i ies; some imes i is en i ely hos ed wi hin se e al
ins i u ions/nodes. To unde s and i s cos s, i is essen ial o quali y he connec ions be ween he
di e en ins i u ions/nodes and he hub.
1.1 The ime ame o he esea ch in as uc u e
One o he i s s eps in es ima ing he cos s o commissioning he RI is o se a “base-yea ”. Acco ding
o he ESFRI amewo k documen , “ he base yea is he poin -in- ime when he cos es ima ion is
pe o med, i.e. he yea o he ESFRI Roadmap applica ion. Depending on whe he i is ex-an e (be o e
o app oxima ely coinciding wi h he s a yea ), in i ine e (jus a e he se up and launch), mid- e m
(a e some yea s o ope a ions) o ex-pos (a e mos o he ope a ions ha e al eady been pe o med),
cos s can be o ecas s/p ojec ions, ac ual/obse ed da a o a mix o hem. They shall be accoun ed o
each yea o he ime ho izon, acco ding o he discoun ed cash low app oach, as desc ibed in he nex
sec ion.” This base yea has no ye been de e mined o he DiSSCo RI. This base yea may be he
yea in which he RI ecei es i s i s in-kind con ibu ion.
The second s ep is o es ima e he li e ime o he esea ch in as uc u e. The Eu opean Commission's
2014 guide sugges s a li e ime o 15 o 25 yea s. The li e ime o DiSSCo is no es ima ed a his s age.
I s speci ici y o being a i ual RI, could sugges no es ima ing i s end and decommissioning gi en ha
i s exis ence is mos ly imma e ial. The RI could las as long as i allows o link ins i u ions holding
na u al his o y collec ions and hei use s.
Today, DiSSCo's Memo andum o Unde s anding (MoU) iden i ies 5 phases o he RI.
Decommissioning cos s could ep esen a 6 h phase. These phases co espond o di e en ypes o
cos s desc ibed in he ESFRI amewo k documen . The cons uc ion phase is explo ed u he wi h
his miles one.
Figu e 1 - DiSSCo imeline
6
In o de o s udy his cons uc ion phase, i is necessa y o iden i y he cos s uc u e o he RI. The
h ee diag ams below show ha he iming o he cos s depends pa ly on he RI majo upg ades. This
decision has no been aken o he DiSSCo RI. A coope a i e wo k wi h he o he DiSSCo P epa e WPs
will help o cla i y he opic.
Figu e 2- Th ee po en ial RI cos s uc u e
7
1.2 The dis ibu ion o componen s and cos s be ween he hub and
he nodes
Figu e 3 – Schema ic iew dis ibu ed RI
1.2.1 Iden i ica ion o expendi u e sou ces
DiSSCo is a dis ibu ed esea ch in as uc u e and no a coo dina ed esea ch ne wo k
4
. In his espec
i is a ne wo k o dis ibu ed esou ces among di e en na ional nodes and a cen al hub. The na ional
nodes can hemsel es coo dina e he ac ions o local nodes. In o de o calcula e cons uc ion cos s,
i is impo an o de ine on whom hey depend and he e o e o di e en ia ing ce ain cos s acco ding
o hei pu pose:
● Cen al hub cos s o coo dina ion;
● Cen al hub cos s o esea ch and se ice ac i i ies;
● Na ional nodes cos s o coo dina ion;
● Local and na ional node cos s o esea ch and se ice ac i i ies.
Wi hin his miles one, cons uc ion cos s a e mainly ocus on he cen al hub cos s o coo dina ion,
esea ch and se ice ac i i ies. Indeed, hese cos s will be ully connec ed o he DiSSCo ERIC and in
accoun ing e ms i will pa o i s budge . A his s age, i is complex o iden i y wha would be he
cons uc ion cos s suppo ed by na ional and local nodes o coo dina ion, esea ch and se ice
ac i i ies. Solu ions o in eg a e hese cos s a e explained wi h mo e de ails wi hin he hi d sec ion o
his documen .
4
Coo dina ed esea ch ne wo k: collabo a ion o ully independen esea ch pe o ming o ganiza ions.
14
node managemen eams. The equipmen needed o implemen he in as uc u e is likely o be
compu e s and o ice space o he eams.
Physical asse s aise he ques ion o he p og amme's IT in as uc u e and po en ial in es men in
se e s/da a cen es o a chi e da a om na u al his o y collec ions in Eu ope. These answe s depend
on he DiSSCo P epa e (DPP) WP6 ( echnical a chi ec u e and se ice p o ision). By he end o DPP,
he o ma o his IT in as uc u e will ha e o be de e mined and i will be necessa y o iden i y
wha in es men s a e equi ed. A his s age, he assump ion is ha in he sho e m and long e m,
da a s o age is he esponsibili y o DiSSCo membe ins i u ions. One possibili y would be o conside
hese cos s as in-kind om he ins i u ions. They should be conside ed om he momen da a s a s
o be accessible ia DiSSCo - whe he his is du ing he cons uc ion o ope a ion phase emains o be
seen.
Two a iables a e iden i ied o assess he cos s o he physical asse s equi ed o make DiSSCo wo k:
1. The size o he eam o he hub and na ional/local nodes;
2. The echnological and o he needs o he RI (IT equipmen , so wa e, e c.).
These issues a e he same o he cos o non-physical asse s: wha a e he DiSSCo needs o so wa e?
Answe s depend pa ly on WP6, WP5 (common esou ces & s anda ds) bu also on WP2 (human
esou ces, aining & use s suppo ) and WP3 (capaci y enhancemen ) which could equi e he
de elopmen o so wa e and o he ools. A his s age, he cos o hei cons uc ion emains o be
s udied.
As cons uc ion cos s include non-physical asse s, i would hen be possible o imagine a mass
digi isa ion campaign ac oss membe ins i u ions as an in es men o DiSSCo. Digi ised collec ions
would hen become an asse o he RI. This decision depends hea ily on go e nmen unding being
a ailable o suppo DiSSCo.
A he basis o his assump ion, i is unde s ood ha pa o he Na u al his o y collec ions has al eady
been digi ised, so DiSSCo could exis ( o a ce ain ex en ) wi hou a mass digi isa ion campaign. The
da a issued om his wo k could be a ailable h ough DiSSCo. The cos o hese ope a ions canno be
conside ed as cons uc ion cos s and nei he as an asse o he RI as hey ha e been spen o o he
pu poses and by ano he legal en i y han he DiSSCo ERIC i sel .
To conside a digi isa ion campaign as cons uc ion cos would posi ion he RI wi h a capaci y o
mobilise a digi isa ion ne wo k a Eu opean le el. I would gi e he esea ch in as uc u e a b oade
unc ion han making da a a ailable: he ield o da a p oduc ion. Such campaigns could also o e a
c i ical mass o da a ac oss ce ain collec ion ypes acco ding o scien i ic p io i ies.
Digi isa ion campaigns could also be pa o he ope a ional phase. This is in line wi h he concep ha
when i deals wi h digi al esea ch in as uc u e, he bo de is unclea be ween he cons uc ion
phase and he ope a ional phase.
Finally, he concep o digi isa ion also co esponds o digi isa ion-on-demand. This conce ns he
ope a ing phase and no he cons uc ion phase. DiSSCo ERIC would liaise ex e nal use s wi h
ope a o s (NH ins i u ions) who could digi ise specimens on-demand. DiSSCo ope a o s would cha ge
hese se ices. This ques ion has o be s udied mo e in-dep h, no ably as pa o T4.2 (cha ging
se ices).
15
2.1.2.2 Pe sonnel cos s
The cons uc ion phase also includes pe sonnel cos s. The RI could ec ui enginee s, scien is s and
manage s o design and implemen he cons uc ion phase. These cos s will depend on he objec i es
de eloped in he amewo k o DiSSCo P epa e and he ansi ion phase. The eams will be esponsible
o he deploymen o physical and non-physical asse s. A his s age, hese cos s a e en isaged as pa
o he cons uc ion o he hub.
2.1.2.3 Consumables, u ili ies and o he cos s
These include cos s o elec ici y, wa e , a el o ope a e he in as uc u e. A his s age i is likely
ha he e will be a el cos s o coo dina e he ac ion o he RI membe ins i u ions. Elec ici y could
be a cos in he case o he use o pa icula se e s. Wa e is no a likely cos i em o DiSSCo
cons uc ion phase.
2.1.2.4 S a -up cos s
These cos s a e possible o DiSSCo and depend on WP2, WP3, WP5 and WP6. The end o DiSSCo
P epa e and he inal deli e ables will answe hese ques ions.
2.1.3 Replacemen cos s
The issue o eplacemen cos s mi o s he issue o in es men s o build DiSSCo. As we en isage he
cos s I only conce ns in es men s in physical asse s, no in angible asse s. I can be assumed ha
his will in ol e he eplacemen o s a compu e s e e y 5 yea s. O ice u ni u e could be eplaced
e e y 10 yea s. As ega ds compu e se e s, his has ye o be de ined. On a e age, he li e ime o a
se e is es ima ed o be be ween 6 and 10 yea s.
2.1.4 Majo upg ades
This ca ego y o expendi u e is in line wi h Figu e 2. These majo upg ades aise he ques ion o he
empo ali y o he in as uc u e. Do we en isage a ixed in as uc u e o e ime o can we imagine
an in as uc u e ha is bound o e ol e, depending on demand and echnological de elopmen s?
In he de ini ion o he ESFRI documen , hese modi ica ions mus modi y he pe o mance o he RI in
a s uc u al way and ha e medium/long e m e ec s. Acco ding o he RAMIRI handbook, i ual RIs
a e synonymous wi h pe manen upg ades/upda es o hei equipmen as “ he li e cycle o hei
ha dwa e and so wa e is ex emely sho (3-5 yea s) while also new applica ions and new me hods
a e cons an ly implemen ed”. I will be up o WP4 o iden i y wi h he o he WPs hese po en ial needs.
Example: launch o ope a ions, aining cos s, acquisi ion o licences and pa en s
16
2.2 DiSSCo RI decommissioning cos s
Decommissioning cos s a e mean o happen a he end o he li e-cycle o he esea ch in as uc u e.
The Eu opean commission asks RIs o es ima e hem be o e he commissioning o he RI. They a e
pa icula ly ele an o physical RIs such as nuclea acili ies o hose wi h ma e ials ha a e expensi e
o disman le.
In he case o DiSSCo, a i ual esea ch in as uc u e, i is no conce ned wi h disman ling a physical
in as uc u e. Meanwhile, decommissioning, o a wide ex en also e e s o human esou ces,
employmen and da a. The impac on he RI employees (ending pe sonal con ac s) could be
conside ed in ha con ex as well as he way da a is managed: i will be impo an o secu e hei
access beyond he RI li e-cycle. DiSSCo will c ea e and manage a g ea weal h o da a s o ed in se e s.
Decommissioning cos s could be seen as he cos o mig a ing he da a when he sys em implemen ed
by DiSSCo e mina es because i is obsole e.
17
3. The cos o p oducing DiSSCo da a o i s
membe ins i u ions
The cos o he DiSSCo esea ch in as uc u e go beyond he cos s ca ied by he hub. DiSSCo elies
on a ne wo k o ins i u ions ha hold na u al his o y collec ions om which he RI will p oduce
se ices. In assessing he cos s o RI, he ques ion a ises as o he place o expenses assumed by he
ins i u ions. Some o hese a e in es men s, in he sense ha hey ha e a medium/long- e m alue,
bu a e no conside ed as in as uc u e cons uc ion cos s.
The pe ime e below shows he DiSSCo da a p oduc ion chain a ailable. The a ionale he e is o
conside ha wi hou he ac i i ies o specimen acquisi ion, specimen p epa a ion, collec ion cu a ion
and da abasing suppo ed by he ins i u ions, DiSSCo would no exis .
Figu e 8 - Pe ime e o he cos s suppo ed by ins i u ions
Howe e , some o hese ac i i ies ha e di e en pu poses, DiSSCo being one o hem. Thei cos s a e
no en i ely connec ed o he esea ch in as uc u e. I is e en possible o conside ha access, which
is he co e aim o DiSSCo, occupies a mino i y posi ion in he de elopmen o hese ac i i ies. Fo
example, a he Muséum na ional d'his oi e na u elle de Pa is (MNHN), only 2% o he 68 million
specimens p ese ed a e he subjec o s udies and/o access eques s each yea .
This is one he speci ici y o DiSSCo, which is a esea ch in as uc u e ha exploi s he his o ical
ac i i ies o i s membe ins i u ions. The esou ces a e he na u al his o y collec ions. These collec ions
a e use ul o esea ch and opening up access o hem could inc ease hei scien i ic po en ial.
18
Ne e heless, om a budge a y poin o iew, alo ising he expenses ha allow hei p ese a ion is
an impe a i e o i s membe s, and a challenge ha DiSSCo P epa e should sol e.
3.1 P ese a ion cos s as capi al expendi u e: why no ?
A i s assump ion was o conside he cos s o p ese a ion
7
and da a cu a ion
8
as capi al expendi u es
o he esea ch in as uc u e. The na u al his o y collec ions would hen be conside ed as asse s. This
i s hypo hesis was no alida ed because he concep o capi al expendi u e is egula ed by
in e na ional accoun ing s anda ds (In e na ional Founda ion Accoun ing S anda ds - IFRS). These
s anda ds limi he cha ac e isa ion o expendi u e as capi al expendi u e acco ding o some ules:
The u u e economic bene i s o collec ion p ese a ion and da a cu a ion a e so a possible bu no
quan i ied. I is he e o e complex o alida e his i s c i e ion.
The cos o main aining he collec ions and he cos o cu a ing he da a a e a his s age di icul o
measu e. So a , he da a ob ained con ains a signi ican po en ial o e o . The membe ins i u ions
o DiSSCo P epa e do no ha e analy ical accoun ing o iden i y and es ima e hese cos s. These cos s
he e o e do no ul il he second c i e ion.
Added o his is he ac ha he cos s o da a cu a ion and p ese a ion in ol e main enance cos s,
which is no compa ible wi h he no ion o capi al in es men .
7
P ese a ion cos s: cos s o collec ions de elopmen , managemen and ca e, day- o-day p ese a ion o na u al his o y
specimens (include s o age and cu a ion). This includes s a cos s, capi al in es men s, equipmen and consumables.
Conse a ion ac i i ies s a om he momen specimens en e collec ions. This excludes specimen acquisi ion (collec ing).
8
Da a cu a ion: co esponds o he ime spen o en e , manually o compu a ionally, in o ma ion abou na u al his o y
collec ions. This in ol es bo h ini ial egis a ion o in o ma ion and upda es. Da a cu a ion is di ec ly ela ed o he Mids
le el o he specimen (see D2.3 - Design o a Collec ion digi isa ion Dashboa d - ICEDIG). This cos a ea includes s a ing cos s
associa ed wi h imp o ing da a cu a ion ac i i ies should be classi ied he e o unde IT ools (e.g. ime on ex e nal p ojec s
like TDWG collec ions desc ip ions in e es g oup, echnical s a ime on in e nal da a cu a ion p ojec s such as Join he
Do s).
Unde IAS 16, p ope y, plan and equipmen (which ela e o conse a ion cos s) can be ecognised
as asse s i :
− i is p obable ha u u e economic bene i s associa ed wi h he i em will low o he en i y;
− he cos o he i em can be measu ed eliably.
Acco ding o he IAS 38 ule on in angible asse s (which ela e o da a cu a ion), expendi u e o an
in angible i em is ecognised as an expense, unless he i em mee s he de ini ion o an in angible
asse , and:
− i is p obable ha he e will be u u e economic bene i s om he asse ;
− he cos o he asse can be eliably measu ed.
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3.2 Recogni ion o ins i u ional cos s o DiSSCo RI
Mos o he cos s co e ed by DiSSCo membe ins i u ions a e pa o he RI ope a ional phase bu
no o he commissioning phase. I we see DiSSCo as an ERIC wi h i s own legal s a u es and accoun ing
sys em, i is complex o in eg a e he in es men s o he ins i u ions which hemsel es depend on
subsidia y accoun ing sys ems. One way o ecognise hem wi hou c ea ing an ex emely complex
inancial sys em is o de elop a sys em o ee-based se ices and / o se ice le el ag eemen s (SLAs).
These wo king hypo heses s ill need o be s udied mo e closely in WP4. This includes lea ning om
he expe ience o o he ERICs ha ha e implemen ed SLAs.
In ha con ex , we imagine a hub ha would ac as a link be ween collec ions holde s and demand
(ex e nal use s). This hub would consis o a eam ha would ecei e and coo dina e eques s. I would
also include communica ion, legal se ices, e c. Finally, he hub would de elop digi al se ices, a
pla o m, ha would p o ide access o he ange o in o ma ion and se ices possible wi h na u al
his o y collec ions.
I we look in o he u u e, we can imagine ha use s will go o he pla o m o make eques s o
digi ised images, analyses and access o collec ions ( he scope s ill need o be de ailed). This aises he
ques ion o he place o he ins i u ions' ac i i ies in he budge o he esea ch in as uc u e. This
ques ion is all he mo e complex as i in ol es he na u al his o y collec ions. These collec ions ha e
an almos incalculable economic alue due o hei scien i ic, he i age and his o ical dimensions. A
his s age, we ques ion whe he hey could be classi ied as common goods.
In his con ex , i is a ques ion o bo h:
1. Gi ing an economic alue o he na u al his o y collec ions made a ailable by he esea ch
in as uc u e;
2. Thinking abou an economic pa ne ship be ween he hub and he ope a o s (Na u al his o y
ins i u ions).
1. Fi e a iables o conside na u al his o y collec ions’ economic alue:
• Annual p ese a ion cos s
• Annual cos s o cu a ion o he da a which in o ms he in o ma ion on he specimens
• Annual cos s o acquisi ion o specimens
• Annual pe cen age o specimens s udied, accessed
• A e age numbe o yea s du ing which specimens a e p ese ed ( om 10 o 400 yea s?)
20
No e ha his alue may a y acco ding o he ype o collec ion (bo anical, en omological, e eb a e,
e c.). I will also necessa ily be inaccu a e bu symbolic. I is a ques ion o economically aluing an asse
which, wi h DiSSCo, is sha ed on a much wide ma ke han he one ha has exis ed un il now. A la ge
pa o i s alue is gua an eed hanks o he wo k o ins i u ions holding na u al his o y collec ions. I
is hen impo an o de elop a cos ing sys em o hese collec ions; his sys em canno be accu a e
due o he ines imable alue o he collec ions bu i would be a way o alue he wo k ca ied ou by
ins i u ions o p ese e all he specimens.
2. Thinking abou he economic ela ionship be ween he hub and he ope a o s
The o he issue is he economic ela ionship be ween he hub and he ope a o s (ins i u ions holding
na u al his o y collec ions). A his s age, WP4 has h ee op ions in mind which ha e di e en
consequences:
a. C ea e a sys em o cha ged se ices. In his con igu a ion, he DiSSCo use would eques a se ice
om he hub. The hub would liaise wi h he ope a o o see how much capaci y i has o handle
he eques . I he eques is accep ed, he ope a o would issue a quo e o he eques ed se ice,
and hen an in oice once he se ice is pe o med. The ques ion o "who pays o he se ice?"
hen a ises. Indeed, he complexi y o unding means ha he RI is likely o be unded mainly by
na ional go e nmen s, which in u n und he ope a o s (ins i u ions) and many esea che s om
public ins i u ions. I is hen a ze o-sum game i he esea che applies o unding om he same
unding body o pay o se ices ha hey a e o he wise paying o . Indeed, in his si ua ion he
unding body would see i s unds ci cula ing om one s akeholde o ano he (wi h all he
adminis a i e bu den associa ed wi h) bu he bene icia ies would no change. A way o a oid his
si ua ion would be o classi y use s acco ding o hei belonging and o adap he a i s acco ding
o he di e en ca ego ies o use s (membe ins i u ion, p i a e sec o , EU, e c.). The weakness o
his sys em is ha i does no allow o ad ance budge ing o eques s. Ins i u ions ha e limi ed
capaci y depending on he size o hei eams and equipmen . Wi hou isibili y, hey may ind
hemsel es unable o mee unan icipa ed demands.
b. C ea e se ice le el ag eemen s be ween he hub and he ope a o s (ins i u ions). In his
con igu a ion, in ad ance, he ins i u ions decla e a plu iannual se ice le el o DiSSCo. This
implies a budge ha an icipa es demand wi h DiSSCo, which hen p oposes a ailable s a ,
wo kspaces and machines o mee use s' demands. This solu ion has a s ong legal dimension
which equi es p io nego ia ions and he abili y o an icipa e demand wi h DiSSCo. I also opens
a window o he specialisa ion o ins i u ions. Each ins i u ion / ope a o would specialise in one
o mo e a eas and demand would be dis ibu ed acco ding o hese a eas o specialisa ion. Wi h
his solu ion, i is possible o imagine an adap a ion du ing he yea ia a eques ha would go
h ough he hub.
c. A mix be ween he wo solu ions men ioned abo e: hey can be complemen a y.
21
These p oposals a e only applicable i ins i u ions a e able o quan i y he alue o he se ices hey
could p o ide wi h DiSSCo. The calcula ion o hese cos s equi es anspa ency om he RI membe
ins i u ions. A common p o ocol will ha e o be p oposed by WP4 o ha monise he calcula ion o
hese cos s in o de o ensu e equali y be ween membe ins i u ions. This calcula ion model will
include ins i u ions di ec and indi ec cos s o DiSSCo (see igu e n° 8). I means ha p ese a ion
cos s will be pa o he a i p oposed by ins i u ions.
A ques ion emains abou he da a ha has al eady been p oduced by he ope a o s and ha will be
sha ed wi h DiSSCo. This is di icul o quan i y as hese a e pas cos s and in he con ex o open da a.
Legisla ion on he alue o digi al da a needs o be s udied in mo e de ail. Howe e , one basis o
e lec ion is ha aw da a should be public and ee. Any ac ion o make he da a accessible can be
ha e a p ice bu he basis is ee. Thus, o he ex en ha ins i u ions espec he FAIR p inciples and
c ea e pipelines be ween hei da abases and DiSSCo, he e may no be a e u n on in es men o he
ins i u ions. This issue needs o be explo ed in mo e de ail in Task 4.2.
3.3 Cla i ica ion o he scope o WP4 and DiSSCo
This miles one allowed WP4 o cla i y he scope o he DiSSCo RI:
▪ The ins i u ions suppo ed he impo ance o measu ing and aluing he cos s hey assume o
enable he p oduc ion o da a om na u al his o y collec ions;
▪ The wo k o calcula ing all he cos s co e ed by he ins i u ions canno be ca ied ou by WP4
alone, as i does no ha e he budge and he e o e he human esou ces o measu e hese cos s.
WP4 will he e o e p oduce a guide ha will delimi he cos s o be measu ed and how o iden i y
hem. I will be up o he ins i u ions o ca y ou he exe cise;
▪ A his s age, li ing collec ions (animal and plan ) do no all wi hin he scope o DiSSCo's cos
calcula ions. Thei ole has no ye been de ined wi hin he in as uc u e. I i is, WP4 could wo k
on a me hodology o his cos ca ego y.
22
Conclusion and nex s eps
By ex ending he ques ion o capi al expendi u e o ha o he cons uc ion cos s o he esea ch
in as uc u e, miles one 4.6 ini ia es he e lec ion on he ansi ion be ween DiSSCo P epa e and
he conc e e commissioning o he esea ch in as uc u e. The cu en p epa a o y phase is
d awing he con ou s o he u u e RI and i is collec i ely ha he p ojec wo kpackages will be
able o de e mine he angible and in angible in es men s necessa y o he launch o he
in as uc u e.
The choices a e mul iple and ange om go e nance o IT in as uc u e and aining cos s. I is
also impo an o de ine he place o he ins i u ions and he place o he hub in o de o iden i y
how he in es men s o one will be ecognised by he o he s. These decisions canno be aken a
he WP4 le el alone. I is essen ial o o ganise consul a ion mee ings wi h he o he membe s o
he p ojec in o de o ind ailo -made solu ions.
Wi h hese issues open, WP4 will con inue o wo k on de ining he scope o he RI. I will o ganise
mee ings wi h he o he wo kpackages o aise hei awa eness o he issue o cons uc ion cos s.
The wo k on he cos calcula ion me hod will ha e o be e ined and sha ed wi h all he membe s
o he RI. The ac ual calcula ion o he expenses co e ed by he membe ins i u ions o p oduce
da a o DiSSCo will be hei esponsibili y and no ha o WP4.
23
Re e ences
Rizu o C. e al (2013) Realising and Managing in e na ional Resea ch In as uc u es (RAMIRI)
Handbook. Accessed on 2021-09-23.
Cen e o Indus ial S udies (CSIL) (2019) Guidelines on cos es ima ion o esea ch in as uc u es
Eu opean S a egy Fo um on Resea ch In as uc u es (ESFRI). Accessed on 2021-09-21.
