Towards Rigorous Metamodeling

MDE has provided several significant improvements in the development of complex systems by focusing on more abstract issues than programming. However, improvments are needed on the semantic side in order to reach highlevel certification such as the one currently required for critical embedded systems (which will also probably be required in the near future for Information Systems as application of Basel II kind of agreements). This paper presents different means to specify models semantics at the metamodel level. We will focus on the definition of executable SPEM-based development process models (workflow related models) using an approach defined for the TOPCASED project.