OPERAS PRIME

OPERAS-PRIME (Progressing the Research Infrastructure towards Maturity & ERIC Status) will advance OPERAS, the distributed Research Infrastructure for open scholarly communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), on its pathway towards becoming an ERIC by 2027/2028. Building on OPERAS-PLUS, which prepared the preliminary draft statutes and technical & scientific description, OPERAS-PRIME will provide the organisational, financial, and operational readiness required for the formal ERIC application. The project is structured around four objectives: (i) finalising the ERIC’s governance, statutes, policies and budget plan, while securing Member State commitments; (ii) consolidating OPERAS’ role as a key provider of open, FAIR-aligned SHARP services (Sustainable, Helpful, Accessible, Reusable, Professional) through a distributed service architecture and transparent access policies; (iii) strengthening OPERAS’ capacity to mobilise and coordinate national communities via National Nodes, widening membership and user engagement; and (iv) enhancing OPERAS’ global role by deepening policy dialogue and building strategic international partnerships. OPERAS-PRIME gathers 14 partners representing research organisations, infrastructures, and national agencies from across Europe, reflecting OPERAS’ community-driven model. Over 30 months, the consortium will finalise governance and policy frameworks, validate the distributed service architecture, consolidate national strategies for community engagement, and develop an international roadmap. These concrete outcomes will position OPERAS to submit the official ERIC request, ensuring a smooth transition to its implementation phase and anchoring the infrastructure firmly within the European Research Area.