Natural science collections are an integral part of the global natural and cultural capital. They include hundreds of millions of animals, plants, fossils, rocks, minerals and meteorites, which account for 55% of the natural sciences collections globally and represent 80% of the world biodiversity and geodiversity. Data derived from these collections underpin countless innovations, including tens of thousands of scholarly publications and o􀀮fficial reports – supporting legislative processes relating to health, food security, sustainability and environmental change; inventions and products critical to our bioeconomy, databases, maps and descriptions of scientific observations, instructional material for education, and informational material for the public.

DiSSCo directly addresses the current fragmentation of European collections, by transforming a network of institutions into a coherent RI: a one-stop-shop for European collections, collection data and associated expertise. DiSSCo unifies 115 leading natural science collection facilities in 21 countries and has a concrete plan for further expansion. DiSSCo will deploy its service portfolio under four classes and for a broad range of users: i) e-science services – unfied discovery, access, interpretation and analysis of complex linked biodiversity and geodiversity data, through a single-entry point; ii) transnational and remote access – universal pan-European physical access and digitisation-on-demand services for all major European collections; iii) support & training – integrated user support desk and open multi-modal training programmes to enhance digital skills across users; iv) Joint Research Programming – prioritisation and support of data-driven innovation-led joint programmes, building on the combined capacity of hundreds of European institutions.