OpenCloud becomes part of the European Open Science Cloud

Berlin, 4 November 2026 – As a subcontractor to the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Centre (PSNC), OpenCloud supports the operation and further development of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) EU Node. PSNC is a member of the Open Science Commons Consortium, which was successful in the European Commission’s tender process. The award decision was announced on 30 October 2026.

The framework contract covers the operation, maintenance, support and further development of the existing platform.

Connecting research data across Europe

The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) is a European initiative that makes research data, software and digital services accessible and interconnects them across national and organisational boundaries. The aim is to facilitate the exchange of scientific knowledge and to strengthen collaboration between research institutions.

A key component of this initiative is the EOSC EU Node. The platform, provided by the European Commission, has been operational since October 2024 and offers researchers digital tools for storing and exchanging files, as well as services for file management and data processing, which are geared towards data openness, discoverability, accessibility and reusability (FAIR). A key component of the EOSC EU Node’s service portfolio is Enterprise File Sync and Share Services (EFSS), which enable the storage and sharing of files as well as collaboration on documents. The EOSC EU Node serves as a reference point for the integration of further European research platforms. Open standards and interoperable technologies form the basis for this networked ecosystem.

According to figures from the EOSC EU Node in October 2026, it already makes more than 190 million research objects discoverable and supports around 2,000 research groups. It thus makes an important contribution to the interlinking of scientific data and to collaboration within the European research community, based on the local European data and computing infrastructure.

OpenCloud relies on open technologies

OpenCloud is an open-source solution for file management, file sharing and collaboration. Its cloud-native architecture is designed to efficiently manage even very large volumes of data and a large number of users. Thanks to open interfaces, the software can be integrated into existing IT landscapes and operated both in in-house data centres and in hosted environments.

The EOSC EU Node’s previous file sync and share solution is based on ownCloud Infinite Scale. This solution will be replaced by OpenCloud as part of the new tender. Consequently, the Heinlein Group’s open-source solution will be used in future for the exchange and collaborative editing of research data.

Open-source solutions are particularly important in research, where institutions collaborate across national and organisational boundaries. They facilitate the secure exchange of data and enable organisations to decide for themselves how to operate their infrastructure and manage their data.

“Research thrives on the sharing of knowledge and people working together across borders. This requires digital tools that function reliably, are open and can be operated independently in the long term. We are delighted to contribute our expertise to the EOSC EU Node and to work alongside our European partners on an open research infrastructure,” says Klaas Freitag, CTO of OpenCloud.

Collaboration within the European consortium

The Open Science Commons Consortium is coordinated by the Athena Research and Innovation Centre. Other consortium partners include the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Centre (PSNC), GÉANT Vereniging, OpenAIRE AMKE and Netcompany S.A. OpenCloud is supporting the project as a subcontractor to PSNC.

The participating organisations will take over the day-to-day operation of the existing EOSC-EU Node services and further develop the platform in line with the requirements of the European research community. The framework agreement also enables additional development work to respond to new requirements.

Operations under the new contractual structure are scheduled to begin on 14 February 2027. The four-year framework agreement thus lays the foundation for continuation until the end of 2030, subject to available funding and corresponding individual contracts.

Further information:

• Announcement from the European Commission
• EOSC EU Node

About OpenCloud

OpenCloud is the high-performance open-source solution for file management, file sharing and content collaboration, meeting the highest standards of user-friendliness, performance, stability and scalability. The software can be flexibly operated on-premises or securely procured via partners. With intuitive operation, seamless integration, user-independent file management (“Spaces”) and secure versioning, OpenCloud is ideally suited to the public sector, educational institutions, research organisations, as well as large enterprises and service providers.

Together with OpenTalk and mailbox, OpenCloud forms one of the three strong pillars of the Heinlein Group, which provides secure and digitally sovereign IT infrastructures for Europe.

Further information is available at https://opencloud.eu

About the Heinlein Group

The Heinlein Group, based in Berlin, stands for digital sovereignty, data protection and open source. Under its umbrella, it brings together the brands Heinlein Support, mailbox, OpenTalk and OpenCloud, which offer long-standing expertise in open standards, personalised advice and innovative solutions for secure communication and independent IT infrastructure. Whether email services, video conferencing or file management – the Heinlein Group’s products are GDPR-compliant, flexible in use and state-of-the-art. Together with its hosting and consultancy divisions and the Heinlein Academy, the Heinlein Group thus covers the entire spectrum for setting up and operating sovereign and resilient IT infrastructures. 

For over 30 years, companies, public institutions, educational establishments and service providers have placed their trust in the Heinlein Group’s expertise. Through its services, the Group ensures maximum control and transparency, strengthens digital independence and promotes sustainable IT development.

Contact: 

OpenCloud GmbH 
Anne Gossing
Email: presse@opencloud.eu

Schwartz Public Relations 
Lara Neidhart 
Tel.: +49 (0)89 211 871 – 64
Email: opencloud@schwartzpr.de