What is Open Clouds for Research Environments (OCRE)?
For many research and education institutions, moving to the cloud can be challenging with legal and financial barriers, lengthy procurement processes and limited in-house expertise often standing in the way. That’s where OCRE comes in. Initiated by the pan-European research and education network GÉANT, the OCRE framework agreement makes accessing cloud services simple. It connects institutions with trusted commercial cloud services providers, enabling the seamless integration of innovative solutions—no tender required. The result? Greater flexibility for research and teaching.
All members of a national NREN (National Research and Education Network) are eligible. In Germany, that includes DFN (Verein zur Förderung eines Deutschen Forschungsnetzes e. V.), covering universities, colleges, research institutes and organisations with direct NREN links. But institutions outside the NREN with a research or education focus—such as university hospitals, museums, libraries and schools—can also take advantage.
How to benefit from OCRE.
If research or education institutions want to take advantage of OCRE, the first step is to check whether they are already eligible. If they’re not on the eligibility list, the next step is to contact the responsible NREN (DFN in Germany). Once eligibility is confirmed, you can reach out to Bechtle directly as your framework partner. After a tailored consultation, the call-off contract is signed, and from there it’s straight to the cloud. Even after implementation, Bechtle and IONOS remain on hand to provide ongoing advice and support.