This document contains requirements and specifications for the data-storage layer of Laboranova’s integration architecture and for the data structure of the idea concept. This document presents technology choices for the implementation of the data-storage layer in a way that facilitates composing the different sub-projects (SPs) of Laboranova into a modular collaborative environment. The idea concept is central in Laboranova and working with ideas involves several aspects: • a conceptualisation of what an idea is; • data structures for ideas (Representations based on these data structures are passed among the software systems which make up the Laboranova environment.); • the integration of idea’s manipulation carried out by the different Laboranova’s tools. This document focuses on the data structures, taking into account the requirements of the visualization tool and the results obtained from a questionnaire (‘Laboranova Data Storage Questionnaire’) which was conducted in May 2007 among Laboranova’s partners. Such questionnaire was intended to gather requirements on technology and integration choices which affect some aspects of the idea data structure. This document also takes into account the user requirements gathered in D6.1.1 (‘Report on deployment scenarios and requirements’, version 1.0), which concern: • Idea management: archival and retrieval of ideas • Versioning: branching; vertical expansion of an idea; originating new ideas changing a first one • Relations between ideas: idea clustering • Flexibility and transparency: integrative design, providing a modular user environment • Integration with current practices: connecting Laboranova with previous tools and processes This document is divided in the following parts: • description of the integration architecture to frame this document with the context of Laboranova and the SPs that compose it; • overall description of the data layer; • conceptualization of the idea data structure by: A) giving a compilation of requirements in defining the idea concept (how an idea could be represented, which elements it should contain, how it should work…); B) presenting a data structure to represent an idea.