Name

DLM Forum

Legal name

DLM Forum MTÜ

Website

https://dlmforum.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Information Governance Standards

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Archives, Libraries & Institutional Access Platforms (MPAJAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB)

Keywords

• Digital archiving standards
• Records management specifications
• Information governance
• Digital preservation
• Document lifecycle management

Headquarters

HQ city

Tartu

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: DLM Forum operates as a not-for-profit foundation generating revenue through membership fees. Members include national archives, commercial companies, academic institutions and other organizations involved in information governance. Membership provides access to conferences, exclusive research, training, and networking opportunities to influence EU standards development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DLM Forum is a not-for-profit membership foundation that develops, publishes, and maintains standards and specifications for information governance and digital archiving. Its core offerings are the MoReq2010 records management specification, the E-ARK Knowledge Centre (information governance requirements and reference glossary), and the DILCIS Board (sustainability body for digital archiving standards). Members gain access to standards documentation, training, conferences, webinars, and influence over EU digital archiving standards development.

Product overview

The DLM Forum is a not-for-profit foundation that provides a portfolio of standards, specifications, and knowledge services for information governance and digital preservation. The core offerings include MoReq2010, a records management specification that defines modular requirements for records systems; the E-ARK Knowledge Centre, a comprehensive service for Information Governance practices; and the DILCIS Board, which maintains and develops digital archiving standards from the E-ARK Project. These products work together to provide organizations with the specifications, tools, and community support needed for effective document lifecycle management and long-term digital preservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MoReq2010: Records management specification published by DLM Forum describing modular requirements for records systems.
• E-ARK Knowledge Centre

Products and services

• MoReq2010 A comprehensive records management specification that describes modular requirements for records systems. It provides adaptable requirements applicable to diverse information activities, industry sectors, and organizational types, establishing core services shared by different records systems while remaining modular and flexible. Used by public archives, ICT vendors, and information governance professionals to standardize electronic records management.
• E-ARK Knowledge Centre A set of services providing comprehensive requirements for Information Governance. Organizations can use it to support the definition of Information Governance practices, assess existing practices, contribute to the body of knowledge, use it as a reference glossary, guide improvement efforts, and use it as a learning resource.
• DILCIS Board The Digital Information Lifecycle Management in Cross-Border Internet resources Board, which guarantees the sustainability and further development of digital archiving standards developed within the E-ARK Project. It ensures digital archiving standards are supported by training and dissemination resources, supports institutions in adopting standards, and facilitates participation in global standardization discussions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 member organizations from government, commercial, academic and voluntary sectors
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Open Preservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2019MoU signed at DLM Forum Members' meeting in Helsinki on 15 November 2019. OPF appointed as allied organisation in DLM Forum, and DLM Forum appointed as allied organisation in OPF. The memorandum sets out terms of cooperation between the two organizations.
• E-ARK Consortium (Danish National Archives, Estonian National Archives, Hungarian National Archives, Norwegian National Archives, Slovenian National Archives, Austrian Institute of Technology, University of Brighton, University of Köln, University of Portsmouth, Instituto Superior Técnico Lisbon, ES Solutions, KEEP Solutions, Magenta, DPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE-ARK was a multinational research project (2014-2017) co-funded by the European Commission under CIP PSP with €6 million grant. The consortium developed pan-European specifications and tools for digital archiving. DLM Forum served as one of two pan-European umbrella organisations in the consortium.
• DILCIS BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Preservation Standards Board created to guarantee sustainability and further development of digital archiving standards first developed within the E-ARK Project. Comprises eight high-level digital archiving experts from European national archives, international organisations, academia and archival software development.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Commission involvement includes founding the DLM Forum in 1996, organizing initial forums, supporting MoReq development, and ongoing participation in Executive Committee meetings. Currently developing eArchiving Building Block through CEF Digital programme.
• E-ARK4ALL ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated by Danish National Archives, developing new eArchiving Building Block supported by CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) Digital programme. Building on enhanced specifications first developed by the E-ARK project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• OCLC: Global library cooperative providing shared technology and metadata services for libraries and archives. OCLC is an enabling infrastructure peer, addressing adjacent digital-preservation and metadata challenges faced by DLM Forum's archive members without direct product overlap.

Broad incumbents

• UNESCO Memory of the World Programme: UNESCO programme focused on preservation of documentary heritage worldwide. It operates at a broader global policy level than DLM Forum but addresses overlapping archives and digital preservation themes relevant to DLM Forum's community.
• European Committee for Standardization (CEN): EU-level standards body whose work in archives, records, and document management overlaps with DLM Forum's standards portfolio. CEN represents a broader incumbent whose formal standardisation role intersects with DLM Forum's specifications work.
• International Council on Archives (ICA): Global professional body for archivists and records managers across 1,900+ institutions. ICA is a broader incumbent operating at the worldwide archival profession level, overlapping with DLM Forum on standards influence and national-archive engagement.
• ISO/TC 46 (Information and Documentation): ISO technical committee developing international standards for information and documentation, including archives and records management. TC 46 operates at a higher formal standards layer that DLM Forum's MoReq and E-ARK specifications interface with and complement.

Direct peers

• ARMA International: Non-profit membership association for information governance and records management professionals. ARMA offers comparable educational resources, certification, and community programs for the records management audience that DLM Forum serves in Europe.
• Open Preservation Foundation: Non-profit membership organization focused on digital preservation technology and standards. OPF signed a mutual MoU with DLM Forum in 2019 and serves as an allied organisation, making it the closest peer in mission, structure, and community.
• Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC): UK-based non-profit membership coalition advancing digital preservation. DPC was part of the original E-ARK consortium and serves overlapping national-archive members, making it a directly comparable peer in standards advocacy and community-led training.
• Digital Curation Centre (DCC): UK-based non-profit centre of expertise in digital curation and preservation. DCC offers comparable training, guidance, and community resources aimed at institutions managing digital research and archival data, with overlapping national-archive and academic members.
• Association for Intelligent Information Management (AIIM): Non-profit industry association focused on information management, including records and content services. AIIM provides similar community, training, and standards-influence services to enterprise information governance professionals globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DLMForum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dlm-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DLM Forum