Governance and Organisation of Research Infrastructures

This chapter examines Research Infrastructures (RIs) as complex, socially constructed meta-organisations that bring together autonomous yet interdependent partners. It explores the governance challenges arising from coordinating distributed nodes, managing common-pool resources, and balancing collective and individual interests. The chapter reviews key governance models adopted by European RIs, highlighting how formal rules, decision-making bodies, and organisational arrangements shape effectiveness and legitimacy. It argues that robust, multilayered governance is essential for sustaining collaboration.