OPERAS Prime: advancing OPERAS towards ERIC status
We are pleased to announce PRIME – Progressing the Research Infrastructure towards Maturity & ERIC Status, a new project that marks a decisive step in the consolidation of OPERAS as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).
With a duration of 30 months, from 1 March 2026 to 31 August 2028, PRIME brings together 14 partners from across Europe to support OPERAS in reaching the level of organisational and operational maturity required for its formal ERIC establishment request. On 1 April 2026, the consortium officially launched this new phase with its kick-off meeting, bringing partners together to align priorities and begin the collaborative work ahead.
OPERAS is an example of how a national initiative can evolve into a distributed European research infrastructure. Established as a non-profit association under Belgian law (AISBL) in late 2019 and included in the ESFRI Roadmap in September 2021, OPERAS is now moving steadily towards becoming an ERIC by late 2027 or early 2028.
OPERAS Prime builds directly on the achievements of OPERAS-PLUS (2022–2025), which laid the groundwork for this transition by preparing the statutes and the technical and scientific description of OPERAS. These documents are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025 for feedback from the European Commission. PRIME now takes this work further by focusing on the concrete structures, services, and strategic capacities needed to support the next phase of development.
PRIME is designed to deliver a set of strategic outcomes that are essential to the future development of OPERAS. At its core, the project will support the advancement of OPERAS towards ERIC status, helping to ensure the organisational and operational maturity required for its formal establishment as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium. At the same time, PRIME will contribute to the development of a stronger and more coherent services portfolio, supported by an Information Management System (IMS) capable of improving coordination, efficiency and long-term sustainability across the infrastructure. Another key objective is the establishment of an Innovation Lab, conceived as a space for experimentation, collaboration and the development of new ideas and services in the field of scholarly communication. The project will also reinforce the role of National Nodes, strengthening engagement at national level and supporting closer connections between OPERAS and its diverse research communities across Europe. In parallel, PRIME will contribute to the design of a global development strategy that will guide the long-term positioning, growth and international outlook of OPERAS.
The project is funded under HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01 and brings together a strong consortium of institutions committed to strengthening scholarly communication and open research infrastructures in Europe.
For more information about OPERAS Prime, its objectives, and the consortium, visit OPERAS website.
OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
OPERAS Editorial Team (April 2, 2026). OPERAS Prime: advancing OPERAS towards ERIC status. OPERAS. Retrieved April 12, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/15zyw

