European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) Implementation Phase

Project Information

EHRI-IP

Grant agreement ID: 101129732

DOI

10.3030/101129732

Project closed

EC signature date 12 October 2023

Start date 1 February 2024

End date 31 January 2026

Funded under

• Research infrastructures

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 1 452 727,15

Coordinated by

KONINKLIJKE NEDERLANDSE AKADEMIE VAN WETENSCHAPPEN - KNAW
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EHRI-IP (European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) Implementation Phase)

Reporting period: 2024-02-01 to 2026-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The EHRI Implementation Phase (EHRI-IP) project aimed at substantially advancing the implementation of the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) as a permanent, distributed organization in the form of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), thus enabling state-of-the-art, independent Holocaust research based on the latest facts and technologies.

EHRI-IP guided EHRI through its implementation and early operation phase, and ran in parallel with the process of establishing EHRI as an ERIC. EHRI-ERIC was legally established on 20 January 2025 with ten founding member countries.

EHRI-IP fully achieved its three overall objectives:

1. Implementing EHRI. This was achieved by establishing an operational Central Hub, scaling-up national nodes in all member countries, and finalizing the ERIC’s governance structure and financial planning. Transforming existing high-level scientific, user and technological strategies into operational reality was an important focus as well.

2. Growing EHRI. This was done through preparing a roadmap for the future accession of new member and observer countries; negotiating cooperation agreements with international and strategic partners; and investigating how EHRI can future expand in the future.

3. Managing and valorizing EHRI. This was done by coordinating interactions between the EHRI-IP project and concurrent relevant activities, and developing strategies that focus on EHRI reaching its full potential with regards to innovation and social, economic and scientific impact.

The EHRI-IP project has successfully contributed to establishing EHRI as a permanent research infrastructure (RI), thereby ensuring that EHRI’s mission of fostering trans-national Holocaust research, commemoration and education by connecting sources, institutions and people can continue.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

EHRI-IP’s activities were carefully calibrated to achieve the three overall objectives outline above. The project’s key achievements are:

Implementing EHRI
- Drafting rules of procedures for all governance bodies, and facilitating their inauguration after EHRI-ERIC’s establishment
- Drafting and agreeing key strategies and operational policy with regards to scientific monitoring; user engagement; and quality, risk and performance management
- Consolidating and enhancing EHRI’s technological and data infrastructure and preparing it for long-term operation
- Facilitating the scaling-up of national nodes in ten member countries, and ensuring that they develop in a coherent and well-coordinated manner

Growing EHRI
- Preparing a robust roadmap for the future growth of EHRI’s membership by organizing two newcomer workshops, and providing ongoing support to “EHRI ambassadors” in 19 prospective future member countries
- Furthering EHRI’s internationalization efforts by organizing a workshop with key institutions in the Americas, resulting in 3 Memoranda of Understanding that have already been signed or are in final stages of drafting
- Enhancing EHRI’s relationship with other relevant multilateral organizations through continuous engagement activities, including a highly successful high-level workshop. A key achievement in this regard is EHRI’s acceptance as a Permanent International Partner of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
- Laying the ground for EHRI’s future financial growth by comprehensively mapping available funding sources

Valorizing and managing EHRI
- Preparing an impact assessment framework, impact case studies and branding and marketing strategy to ensure that EHRI maximizes its scientific, economic and social impact
Successfully coordinating the legal establishment of EHRI-ERIC with the activities of EHRI-IP to ensure optimal complementarity between the two processes.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

EHRI-IP provided material support to the successful implementation of EHRI as a distributed ERIC. Towards the end of the project, EHRI entered its operational phase, and possessed all the required systems and processes to unlock significant scientific impacts over the long-term through the provision of first-class services to a large user community that will push scientific discovery and innovation beyond the existing state-of-the-art. By facilitating the long-term integration of traditionally dispersed and fragmented Holocaust RIs into a stable European structure, EHRI-IP will further lead to economic impacts through increased capacity and knowledge sharing across borders, and by realizing economies of scale. Moreover, the project has consolidated EHRI’s position in the European RI ecosystem which will enable EHRI to contribute to the further structuring of the ERA and to develop significant synergies with other European RIs in the social science and humanities domain. A significant result of the project is the impetus it has provided to EHRI’s internationalization.

By the end of the project, EHRI has become recognized as a key player in the global Holocaust research and documentation landscape, and is optimally positioned to shape international agendas and developments in accordance with the needs of the European research communities. This will help EHRI to realize significant social impacts and contribute to the attainment of public policy priorities in areas such as Holocaust commemoration and education and the fights against Holocaust denial, distortion and antisemitism.

EHRI and the USC Shoah Foundation sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Discussion at the Newcomers workshop in Riga

Statement is signed at the inauguration in Warsaw

EHRI-ERIC Director speaks at the inauguration in Warsaw

EHRI joins IHRA

EHRI listed on the ERIC Landscape

EHRI-IP Consortium at the General Partner Meeting in Zagreb