Organisational Structure
Organisational Structure
openEHR International (CIC) is responsible for the running of all openEHR business, primarily via the 4 Programs. Two directors are appointed by the openEHR Foundation, with up to 6 additional directors being elected on a 2 yearly basis by Subscribing members in the Individual, Industry or Organisational groups.
The CIC Board appoints a Chair or multiple Co-Chairs as it sees fit and currently has three Co-chairs.
The Foundation Board comprises three founding members of the original Foundation and three directors drawn from the CIC. Its key role is as custodian of openEHR Intellectual property.
The structure is as follows.
Legal Status
The openEHR Community Interest Company (CIC) trading as 'openEHR International' is a not-for-profit UK member-owned company, regulated by the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004, designed for social enterprises that want to use their profits and assets for the public good.
The openEHR Foundation is a not-for-profit UK company, limited by guarantee. It is regulated under the UK Companies Acts 1985 and 1989. The name 'openEHR' has been registered internationally as a Trade Mark. The main legal function of the Foundation is as the holder of its Intellectual Property, which it makes freely available.
As of 10th May 2019, operational management of Foundation activities is entrusted to the openEHR International (CIC). This enables direct control of openEHR operational activities by subscribing members, through the election of CIC company members/ directors. Previous openEHR Management Board members became the Founding Members/Directors of the CIC. Elections are
The openEHR Foundation will remain in existence with the limited scope of continuing to hold openEHR Intellectual Property and appoints two Directors to the CIC. This was felt to be an important interim step while openEHR International beds down, but it is expected that the Foundation will merge into openEHR International in coming years.
There is an absolute commitment, backed up by Foundation/CIC Articles of Association, that all openEHR Intellectual Property will remain fully open and free to use in both commercial and non-commercial settings.