Frequently asked questions

More than 200 million records linking publications, datasets, software, projects, organisations and funders, drawn from over 10,000 data sources in more than 40 countries. It is one of the richest open research knowledge graphs in the world. Explore the Graph

There are four open ways in:

• Public APIs for programmatic access to records and their relationships.
• Full dataset download: periodic dumps published on Zenodo, for large-scale offline analysis.
• Cloud access on Google BigQuery, for processing at scale without downloading.
• Graph AI Gateway (MCP), powered by Alien Intelligence, for connecting AI assistants and agents.

Read the documentation

Yes. The OpenAIRE Graph is published under a CC BY 4.0 licence, so it can be reused, including commercially, provided you give attribution. Content the Graph links to, such as full texts or datasets, keeps the licence set by its original source.

The Graph is built on the FAIR principles: persistent identifiers, open standards and licences, and a documented data model. Its quality also depends on the metadata that sources provide, so we deduplicate, enrich and validate records, and keep track of where every piece of information comes from.

Anyone with a good idea and a commitment to our principles: researchers, universities, research infrastructures, public bodies, citizen science and civic tech initiatives, startups, SMEs and larger companies. Partners from outside Europe are welcome. Individual open calls may set their own eligibility rules, which are stated in each call.

There are four ways to take part, and most partners combine them:

• Use the OpenAIRE Graph, indicators and services in your products and research.
• Co-create new tools, indicators and services with our teams.
• Contribute data, tools and evidence back to the commons.
• Grow: shape new forms of IP, licensing, sovereignty and security, and find new ways to learn.

See what we offer

Apply to an open call, or tell us about your idea. You do not need a full plan: a short description of who you are, what you need and what you could contribute is enough for a first conversation. See the four steps

No. You can work with us within an EU or national funded project, for example by including OpenAIRE as a partner in a proposal, or independently of any project funding through a direct agreement.

The OpenAIRE Graph and our public APIs are open and free to use. Custom integration, higher volumes, dedicated support and co-development are agreed case by case, and depend on the scope of the collaboration.

Selected participants receive support, coaching and mentoring from OpenAIRE experts, access to data and services, and visibility through our network. The exact support package is described in each call.

Our principles fall into three groups: our starting point (such as openness by default and reciprocity), where we draw the line (non-negotiables such as compliance with EU law and no lock-in on open data) and how we keep collaboration open and sustainable. Read our principles

Yes. Our infrastructure, data and services are open, and we prefer open outputs, but partners may build proprietary services or code. Where they do, we ask for open standards, open APIs and transparency about how open data is used, so that what is open stays open.

Ownership, licensing and maintenance are agreed in writing before work starts, with a preference for open outputs wherever possible.

Every collaboration complies with EU law, including the AI Act, the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, the Data Governance Act and the GDPR. Beyond compliance, OpenAIRE helps shape the rules through EOSC, RAISE, the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information, UNESCO Open Science and the Research Data Alliance.

Two bodies make sure our principles are applied in practice. The Standing Committee on Technology and Services sets the strategic direction and reviews new partnerships, services and collaborations. The Operational Team, led by the OpenAIRE Innovation Officer, runs the day-to-day work and checks that every collaboration meets FAIR, GDPR and licensing requirements. Read about governance

Anyone, individually or in a team, regardless of country, affiliation, career stage or position. Participants had to respect the code of conduct and the CC BY 4.0 licence of the OpenAIRE Graph.

No. Participants could combine the Graph with other data sources or code, but the Graph had to play a primary role in the solution.

An evaluation committee of four to five members from OpenAIRE and Alien Intelligence assessed each entry on novelty and innovation, use of the OpenAIRE Graph and AI, and the impact of the results. Members with a conflict of interest stepped back from evaluating the entry concerned. The committee's decisions are final.

The winner receives €500, paid by bank transfer. Winners resident in Greece provide their full name, tax ID number, home address, IBAN and a signed award acceptance statement covering tax treatment under Greek law. Winners resident elsewhere provide their full name, a self-declaration of their country of tax residence, IBAN and BIC, and a signed acceptance statement in English.

The committee could decide to withhold the prize.

Yes. Applications, data, code, documentation and evaluation results are retained to document the process and the selection of the winner.