Network ICT Advisory Committee (NICTAC)

Introduction/Overview/Mandate

The Network ICT Advisory Committee (NICTAC) promotes cost efficiency, simplicity and transparency through standardisation of IT solutions to the Network while ensuring that key frameworks are followed. It fosters the adoption of international standards and acts as the forum for setting technical and architecture principles applied by the value streams and Agile Teams. Furthermore, it facilitates interoperability between the systems and IT environments of EMA, the NCAs and the European Commission.  

Role of the NICTAC:
 

  • Provide input on technology needs, priorities, and interoperability requirements across the Network.
  • Provide advice on technology implementation choices across the Network​ to enable portfolio objectives agreed by EMA's Portfolio Board and the Network Portfolio Advisory Group (NPAG).
  • Ensure adherence to data standards, data model design and implementation.
  • Advise on dependencies (system and resource) across Network initiatives.
  • Act as change agent towards the NCAs for changes within the Network and in resolving technical issues impacting the Network​.
  • Facilitate the NCA IT Directors and Experts community – liaising with the relevant IT experts in the NCAs, including IT Directors, architects and other relevant experts, and bringing the consolidated point of view to NICTAC.  

Meeting frequency

NICTAC holds six meetings per year, including two face-to-face meetings.  

In addition, NICTAC NCA members can attend the following Agile ceremonies as an observer on a voluntary basis:
 

  • Quarterly Portfolio Sync
  • Quarterly Strategic Portfolio Review
  • System Demo
  • Planning Interval ceremony 

Members and representatives

NICTAC is composed by four NCA representatives (can include IT directors, enterprise/data architects, or other IT experts) and EMA representatives. The membership should represent both human and veterinary medicine agencies. 

The roles of the chair and vice-chair rotate between the Head of EMA’s IM-Division and an NCA representative every two years.  

 Composition of the NICTAC is as follows:
 

NCA representatives (4) – nominated by the Heads of Medicines Agency 
European Commission representative (1) 
EMA head of IM-Division 
EMA head of CIO Office 
EMA enterprise architect 
EMA head of Information security