OCRE

Open Clouds for Research and Education - 2025-2030

Cloud computing services for science, education, public and non-profit organisations.

OCRE service provider

A new OCRE 2024 Framework streamlining access to cloud services for tens of thousands of European Research and Education (R&E) institutions and public institutions started on 3 February 2025. The Framework is led by GÉANT, the collaboration of European Research and Education Networks (NRENs).

CloudFerro is a qualified OCRE supplier for all 39 European countries participating in the OCRE 2024.

Scientists, researchers and users in educational, public and non-profit organisations can use cloud computing services provided by CloudFerro on CloudFerro cloud and CREODIAS platform, via the OCRE 2024 Framework.

CloudFerro cloud on the CREODIAS platform is integrated with an open and free multi PB repository of Earth Observation data from the Copernicus programme.

What is OCRE 2024 Framework?

The OCRE 2024 Framework (Open Clouds for Research and Education) simplifies access to cloud services, enabling research and education institutions and public institutions to procure innovative cloud services in an easy, compliant, and cost-effective way. The new OCRE 2024 Framework officially started on 3 February 2025 and will be in place until 2030.

OCRE 2024 is an EU-compliant cloud procurement framework administered by GÉANT, the collaboration of European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). It is the third iteration of GÉANT’s flagship cloud frameworks that since 2016 have fostered digital transformation across Europe by bridging the supply of innovative commercial cloud services with the demand and requirements of Research and Education institutions.

The full list of OCRE 2024 eligible institutions is here: https://clouds.geant.org/ocre2024entities

Check out more on GÉANT Cloud website.

Get CloudFerro cloud services via OCRE 2024!

Want to know more?  Contact us at [email protected] to learn how to procure our services via the new OCRE 2024 Framework.

Working in the DACH region?

If your institution is located in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, you are welcome to contact our German speaking Support for DACH region at [email protected].

The CloudFerro offer as part of the OCRE 2024

• CLOUD SERVICES - wide range of cloud computing services, open source based, available immediately on the CloudFerro cloud and the CREODIAS platform, including: VMs, Dedicated Servers, GPU, Kubernetes, large data storage and sharing, with direct access to GÉANT network;
• ACCESS TO EO DATA - unlimited, immediate, local access to the largest satellite EO data repository in Europe, with over 30PB of data, at no additional cost, including the possibility of on-site data processing in the cloud;
• SUPPORT - premium technical support at no extra charge
  • help in getting started with cloud, problem solving,
  • access to large knowledge base, tutorials, FAQs,
  • online and on-demand webinars.

Benefits of CloudFerro cloud

• FLEXIBILITY - our customers receive specialized services customized to their needs and support in choosing the right resources for their projects, they get a wide spectrum of additional services and dedicated technical support;
• PREDICTABLE COSTS – our users can benefit from various financing options, 18% discount for science and efficient, flexible and competitive cost models, ensuring simple and predictable budgeting;
• DIGITAL AUTONOMY - we ensure no vendor lock-in - our cloud services are based on mature and flexible open source technologies OpenStack and Ceph, which are industry standards, our hardware is assembled within our company, we have all needed local competences to ensure stable, independent services - all this means that our customers receive solutions without becoming dependent on one supplier;
• EU COMPLIANCE - we are subjected to the EU law and norms, we are not subject to any regulation outside Europe, public services delivered to our customers, their data and processing are all hosted in data centers located in EU countries.

OCRE 2024 - ​Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to procure services via OCRE 2024?

Cloud service offerings in the OCRE 2024 Framework are available in 39 countries across Europe, each with its own portfolio of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions. Over 20,000 organizations in research, education and public sectors in Europe, who want to implement their projects based on cloud solutions, are eligible to procure services via the OCRE 2024 Framework funds. The list is available here: https://clouds.geant.org/ocre2024entities.

What services are part of the OCRE 2024 catalogue?

Thanks to OCRE 2024, research, education and public institutions can get streamlined access to a selected list of innovative cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) while reducing costs and bureaucratic burdens. In particular, the OCRE 2024 Catalogue includes cloud computing services offered on CloudFerro cloud and CREODIAS, and additionally specific services in the field of Earth Observation.