DiSSCo, the Distributed System of Scientific Collections, is a world-class Research Infrastructure (RI) dedicated to natural science collections. The goal of DiSSCo is to create a new business model that digitally unifies all European natural science assets under common access, curation, policies, and practices. This ensures that the data is easily Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR principles).

It represents a significant agreement between natural history museums, botanic gardens, and collection-holding universities worldwide. DiSSCo offers a range of services, providing a unique access point for integrated data analysis and interpretation through digital platforms. The RI involves various partner organizations that address different aspects of the research infrastructure.

Currently in its preparatory phase, DiSSCo is working towards reaching its optimum Implementation Readiness Level (IRL) to embark on its implementation phase. With participation from 23 countries and counting, DiSSCo is a promising initiative that capitalizes on the expertise and cohesion of the scientific community. It is built on the foundation of CETAF, the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities, which has been operating since 1996 and possesses a vast collection of specimens from animals, plants, fungi, rocks, and genetic resources.

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