2018-annual-report

10
annual report
20
legal status,
governance,
and management
The IMDEA Software Institute is a non-profit, independent
organization, constituted as a Foundation. Its structure
brings together the advantages and guarantees offered by
a foundation with the flexible and dynamic management
typical of a private body. This combination is deemed
necessary to attain the goals of excellence in research,
cooperation with industry, and attraction of talented
researchers from all over the world, while managing a
combination of public and private funds. The Institute was
created officially on November 23, 2006 at the initiative of
the Madrid Regional Government, following a design that
was the result of a collaborative effort between industry and
academia, and started its activities during 2007.
The main governing body of the Institute is the Board
of Trustees. The Board includes representatives of the
Madrid Regional Government, universities and research
centers of Madrid, scientists with high international
reputation in software development science and
technology, and representatives of companies, together
with independent experts.
The Board is in charge of guaranteeing the fulfillment of
the foundational purpose and the correct administration
of the funds and rights that make up the assets of the
Institute, maintaining their appropriate returns and utility.
It normally meets twice a year. In the interim, Boardlevel
decisions are delegated to the Standing Committee of
the Board. The Director, who is the CEO of the Institute,
is appointed by the board among scientists with a
well-established international reputation in software
development science and technology. The Director
fosters and supervises the activities of the Institute, and
establishes the distribution and application of the available
funds among the goals of the Institute, within the patterns
and limits decided by the Board of Trustees. The Director
is assisted by the Deputy Director and the General Manager,
who take care of the legal, administrative, and financial
activities of the Institute. Together, they supervise the
different units in the Institute (administration, IT support,
project management, communication, infrastructure, and
REDIMadrid) which work closely with and support the
Research units of the Institute. The current structure is
depicted in Figure.
The Board of Trustees and the Director are assisted in
their functions by the Scientific Advisory Board, composed
of high-level external scientists of international reputation
with expertise in different areas of research covered by
the Institute. The tasks of this advisory board include: to
provide advice on and approve the selection of researchers;
to provide advice and supervision in the preparation of
yearly and longer-term strategic plans; to evaluate the
performance with respect to those plans; and to give
general advice on matters of relevance to the Institute.