1. SEMIC.EU:
Bringing Semantic Interoperability to life
Vassilios Peristeras, EC, DG DIGIT, ISA Unit
Renke Fahl-Spiewack, ]init[ AG
João Rodrigues Frade, PwC
Stijn Goedertier, PwC

2. AGENDA
1. SEMIC.EU overview
2. Core Concepts and Core Vocabularies
3. Federation of Government Metadata
Repositories ( Gofran Shukair et al.)
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3. 1
SEMIC.EU
Overview
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4. SEMIC.EU – Scope
SEMIC.EU is a platform (www.semic.eu)
and a set of services around this platform
to support semantic interoperability initiatives
related to cross-border or cross-sector
electronic interactions between Public
Administrations in Europe
SEMIC.EU was initiated in 2007 and it has been included as one
of the “larger” actions in the new ISA Programme (2010-2015)
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5. SEMIC.EU – Services
Access to
Interoperability Communication
Assets
Interoperability Assets Management
AssetMethods and
Clearing Development Projects
Process
Concepts on the SEMIC.EU
Code lists
Platform
Awareness Community
Community
Raisingbuilding Support
Taxonomies
Guidelines and SEMIC.EU Road Yearly Conference Platform Extension
Studies Show
11 May 2011
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6. 2
SEMIC.EU
Core Concepts and Core Vocabularies
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7. Core Concept – Vision
Semantic definitions should be
commonly agreed
on fundamental, highly reusable concepts
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8. Core Concept – Challenges
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Is it possible for 27 MSs to agree on
common semantics?
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Is it possible to define an entity (concept)
in a way that remains relevant in different
contexts?
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9. Core Concept - Definition
A Core Concept is a simplified data model that captures
the minimal, global, generic, country and domain
neutral characteristics/properties of an entity.
A Core Concept can be represented as Core Vocabulary
using various formalisms (e.g. XML, RDF)
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10. Core Concept - Definition
• Definitions could first be agreed on fundamental
concepts (Core), where diverged and/or
conflicting views are less intense.
• A Core Concept/Vocabulary
Is highly reusable: the specification is simple and
captures basic and generic characteristics of an
information entity, regardless of the context this
entity is used
Is extensible: domain specific specializations can
be drafted on top of the core representation.
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11. Core Concept – Core Person Extensions
Context Neutral
Context Specific
Core Patient Core Voter Core Employee Core Student
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12. Implementations and mappings?
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13. Core Concepts - Principles of development
1. Share ownership and involve the MSs
2. Identify 20-30 top reusable concepts
e.g. Person, Vehicle, Building, Company, Project
3. Reuse existing vocabularies/definitions
4. Use a minimalistic approach
Minimize the number of attributes, keep schemas simple.
5. Draft semantic documentation
… to guarantee the proper reuse of a schema.
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14. Thank you for your feedback!
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