platform and a suite of abstract components with which new developments in different application domains can be engineered with minimal effort [1]p.16. Generic platforms, or reference designs, will be based on a common architectural style that supports the composition of systems out of pre-validated independently developed subsystems that meet the requirements of the different application domains. Given a core architectural style, different instantiations of the generic platform (we call them also artifacts) can be created for different specific application domains, while retaining the capability of component reuse across these application domains. The expert group on Reference Designs and Architecture developed the following strategy to meet its demanding mission. In a first phase the constraints and requirements that delimit the design space for the envisioned ARTEMIS cross-domain reference architecture have been established. Following the proverb Good design comes from the proper co...