The Joint Institute for VLBI faced an international review in March 2012, as a first step to arrive at a new funding agreement between its partners. The preparations in 2011 included formulating the long-term strategy and various evaluation documents. In parallel, discussions concerning whether JIVE should transform into an ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium, a legal entity with a EC basis) continued. A panel of recognized international experts visited JIVE and evaluated the operations, research and development programme (Figure XX), as well as the scientific potential of the EVN and JIVE. In its report the panel expressed great confidence in JIVE, stating, “We cannot imagine the job being done more effectively”. The panel endorsed the strategic priorities that JIVE set for its future development. Most notable was the observation of the panel that “VLBI has a very exciting and broad science case that the EVN can exploit, particularly in synergy with other SKA pathfinders”.

More exists in a word doc