Governing bodies description

NEWCOM++ installs a clear separation between “administrative” and “scientific” tasks and responsibilities, to ensure that the scientists and researchers within the network undertake their work within the Joint Programme of Activities without the need of being involved in the administrative responsibilities of network partnership. “Scientific” is to be interpreted here and in the remainder as “regarding all the core research activities of the NoE, including Integration and Spreading of Excellence”.

The relevant governing bodies are now described:

General Assembly
It is formed by a representative from each of the partners, it takes the strategic decisions about the network life and meets once a year to approve the budget and the yearly update of the JPA.

Executive Board
The Executive Board (EB) is the top operational body where decisions are taken and the consequent actions are planned, both at the scientific and at the management level. This is the only violation to the “separation” rule stated above, for better integration and interaction of the two types of different activities in the NoE (to make sure that the Network does not split into two “halves”). The EB is chaired by the Scientific Director and takes strategic decisions on the activities to be undertaken and on the distribution of funds among the various activities/partners. In particular, it approves the annual Joint Programme of Activities prepared by the Scientific Director with the help of the Vice-Directors for research, and by the Heads and Integration and Spreading of Excellence activities.

Individual programmes are revised and integrated into the draft JPA, which is then discussed with the Advisory Board for final revision and approval. The EB also receives data from the auditing and quality control WP’s and takes the necessary actions where needed. The Executive Board is aided in the implementation of the necessary actions by the NEWCOM++ office and meets physically or virtually (via videoconference) several times a year. Members of the EB are the two NEWCOM++ Directors, the Heads of Integration and Spreading of Excellence, the Vice-Directors for research, plus two more members to be elected by the General Assembly.

Advisory Board
The Advisory Board (AB) is formed by the two NEWCOM++ Directors plus 4 representatives of the European wireless communications Industry, to be identified and invited by the EB at its first meeting. The AB provides evaluation of the JPA, of the annual activity reports and of the main scientific deliverables. The AB meets once per year, as a rule in occasion of the NEWCOM++ Workshop.

Scientific Board
The Scientific Board (SB) is composed of the NEWCOM++ Scientific Director chairing it, plus all WP Leaders. The Scientific Board meets physically or virtually three times a year to coordinate and supervise the JPA. All information between the Executive Board and the individual research Work Packages flows through the SB, with the special help and support of the Vice-Directors for Research.

NEWCOM++ Office
Under the leadership of the A&M Director, the NEWCOM++ Office supports all partners in their A&M tasks and oversees implementation of the Joint Programme of Activities. In particular, this body takes care of:

• The maintenance of the infrastructure (development of auditing mechanisms, circulation of guidelines and provision of training) for the administration of the project;
• The coordination of (but not scientific input into) the technical activities of the network;
• The support of the Joint Programme of Activities, ensuring that milestones are accomplished and troubleshooting potential problems;
• The overall legal, contractual, ethical (if any), financial and administrative management of the network;
• The timely and accurate reporting on network activities to the European Commission;
• The management and updating of the Consortium Agreement between the partners;

• The provision of project management support to each individual NEWCOM++ Work Package and partner;
• The provision of administrative and project management support to the Executive Board, the Scientific Board, the Advisory Board, and the NEWCOM++ Directors;
• The support of the meetings of the project’s bodies (preparation, agenda, support during the meeting, circulation of minutes, presentations and proceedings);
• The organisation of (physical and virtual) conferences and seminars on NEWCOM topics of interest, open to the wider public;
• The support and the development of the Virtual Center of Excellence (ViCe-WiCom) and of the project’s Internet presence (see later);
• The coordination at network level of the exchange of researchers and doctoral students within the network;
• The coordination at network level of knowledge management and other innovation-related activities;
• The promotion of gender equality in the network.