D2.3 ECoE Organisational and Governance Structure, WP2

Abstract

This Deliverable of the EXCELSIOR Project describes the Governance and Organisational structures of the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence. These structures have been designed to support an autonomous Centre of Excellence in its endeavour to establish itself as a self-sustainable Centre of Excellence in Earth Observation, recognised at an International level. To accomplish the organisation’s mission and vision, the Matrix Organisation Structure is adopted by the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence. This approach focuses on integration and flexibility, which helps develop individuals with broader perspectives and skills who can deliver value across the different Departments and Functional Areas as well as manage a more complex and interconnected environment, thereby improving efficiency, promoting flexibility and increasing communication. The autonomy of the Centre is guaranteed by the independence of its Board of Directors, which has been formed from reputable people based on their experience, skills, proficiency in the field in which the Company operates and their ability to recognize the strategy, vision and values of Company. Governance in ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is exercised by its seven-member supreme body, namely the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors decides on the Company's policy and strategy issues. The responsibility of the BoD extends also into all financial matters of the company, through the validation of the annual Budget. In the organisation’s structure the BoD is placed at the top of the organisational diagram. An External Advisory Committee attains a consultative, independent role. The External Advisory Committee consists of up to five renowned scientists in the fields of geoinformatics and the observation of the Environment from space. The members of the External Advisory Committee come from the international scientific community. The Organisational Structure of the ECoE demonstrates full autonomy in decision making by establishing a management structure for legal, administrative, operational, personnel, entrepreneurial and educational matters. In order to accomplish this, the Matrix Organisation Structure is proposed as an effective paradigm. It focuses on integration and flexibility, which helps develop individuals with broader perspectives and skills who can deliver value across the different Departments and functional areas as well as manage a more complex and interconnected environment, thereby improving efficiency, promoting flexibility and increasing communication. Decision making in ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is taken at two levels. The first level of Decision making in ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is the Board of Directors (BoD) and the second level of Decision making is the Executive Committee. ECoE is autonomous in its decision making. Strategic and Policy decisions are taken at the highest level, namely, the Board of Directors. The second level of decision making in ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is the Executive Committee (EC). The Executive Committee is the body that takes decisions on the Company's financial and administrative management and coordinates its internal and external operations, specifying and exercising financial control. The Members of the Executive Committee (EC) come from the organisation’s senior staff; EC is chaired by the company’s Managing Director and the other four Members are appointed by the Board of Directors from the existing senior staff to serve in the EC for a predetermined period of time. All potential decisions required for the smooth and efficient functioning of the organisation are covered by the decisions taken at these two decision-making levels (i.e., the BoD and the EC). The BoD had their first meeting on 18 May 2020, soon after the official Incorporation of the Company, and has taken a series of decisions aiming at setting-off the organisation into an operationally active entity. One of the outstanding decisions was to start the appointment of key managerial staff, like the position of the Managing Director, the Members of the External Advisory Committee and the Coordinators of the Functional Areas and thematic Departments Soon after the filling of the Key Managerial positions and the formation of the EC, a number of core staff vacancies have been announced. The ECoE is in the process of evaluating the applications and will proceed with the selection stage soon, with the aim to staff core positions with appropriate high calibre individuals, as soon as possible. The engagement of an ecosystem of stakeholders is of paramount importance in ECoE’s strategy for self-sustainability. In this respect, a Multi-Actor approach has been adopted, in which, stakeholders participate in the co-design, co-creation, commercialisation and promotion of novel remote sensing products, services. The ECoE network will focus on creating sustainable, mutually beneficial links with national, regional, European and international partners.