OCRE Cloud Framework
In addition to offering its own cloud infrastructure devoted to the research and education community, GARR makes available to its users access to the OCRE Cloud framework, a set of European framework agreements for the simplified procurement of commercial cloud services in IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as service) modes.
The OCRE cloud framework is designed to facilitate the use of the cloud in those situations where it is not possible or convenient to use in-house or dedicated solutions, such as the GARR cloud, for one's cloud computing needs, or when additional resources are required (e.g. to absorb computing peaks).
Purchasing public cloud services can be a complex and time-consuming process. The OCRE Cloud Framework aims to simplify these processes by offering the research and education community a portfolio of cloud suppliers across Europe and ready-to-use service agreements.
The framework, created by the European OCRE (Open Clouds for Research Environments, 2020-2024) project consortium led by GÉANT, builds on GÉANT's previous IaaS framework, and offers a wider range of services, enabling access to commercial digital services for research activities.
How to access the services
The framework is open to higher education institutions, universities and research organisations that are part of the GARR network.
In order to simplify the process of service selection and purchase, OCRE has published a Catalogue where users can navigate a map of Europe showing the services are available in each country. Each service is presented through a tab that includes a link to detailed information about the platform and a contact email address that can be used to request an offer.
The role of GARR
GARR, as the National Research & Education Network (NREN), acts as a referrer between its community and the OCRE cloud framework, making the framework agreements available in Italy to the institutions that are part of its community.
GARR, however, has no involvement in the relationships between users and providers and does not carry out specific communication and promotion activities of the services made available to users of the Italian research and education community by OCRE providers. All information actions and interactions must take place directly between users and suppliers.
It should be noted that OCRE is a four-year European project, which started on 1 December 2020 and the framework will remain valid until the end of the project, i.e. until 30 November 2024. Furthermore, contracts can only be concluded in English.
The list of OCRE suppliers for Italy can be consulted on the project website and for further information and support please write to
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