On January 20th, the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) was officially established as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). This milestone coincides with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, symbolizing the collective commitment to studying and preserving European history.
The European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) ERIC will continue to conduct cross-national Holocaust research, and provide freely available education services.
Since 2010, EHRI has integrated Holocaust research and documentation through EU-funded initiatives. In 2018, it was included on the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap. Led by KNAW-NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies (Netherlands), a series of EHRI projects brought together 27 organisations in 18 countries. The online platform, the EHRI Virtual Observatory, enables online access to information about the Holocaust, and sources, wherever researchers are located.
“We recognise the imperative of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive through Holocaust research and documentation and through raising awareness among younger generations to ensure that this dark chapter in history will never be forgotten.”
This declaration, signed by the member countries, marks EHRI’s induction as the 30th ERIC established by the European Commission.
The ERIC has been formed by ten founding countries: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Czechia and the United Kingdom.
Institutions in these countries have united to form this distinctive research infrastructure to continue to coordinate and integrate distributed resources and expertise related to one of the darkest periods in European history.
During the inauguration ceremony, Eppo Bruins, Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, stated:
“The EHRI collects public information about the Holocaust, making it more accessible to researchers and other interested parties. […] That knowledge and research into our past can be a powerful antidote to the antisemitism in our societies, and a reminder that Europe rose from the ashes of Auschwitz.”
This development holds particular significance as 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
This development holds particular significance as 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
As time passes, fewer survivors remain to directly testify to the Holocaust’s atrocities. Preserving this memory—not as a static record but as an enduring source of insight for interpreting the present and envisioning the future—has become a crucial civil and ethical imperative that requires a collective response.
The ERIC status serves as a means to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of Europe’s efforts to address this fundamental necessity.
On 6 March, EHRI signed the Memorandum of Understanding, formally becoming part of the ERIC Forum network. Antje Keppler, Chair of the ERIC Forum, stated:
“We extend a warm welcome to EHRI in the ERIC community and wish them all the best for this exciting time of implementing the legal framework and bringing it into operation.”
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation said:
“I warmly welcome the establishment of EHRI as an ERIC. As we continue to drive innovation and excellence in European research, EHRI’s cutting-edge infrastructure and services play a vital role in promoting open access to historical data, fostering new centres of excellence, and safeguarding Europe’s shared heritage. I am confident that EHRI will continue to inspire new generations of researchers and scholars to explore the complexities of the Holocaust and its impact on European society.”
Welcome EHRI!
Photo credit: Maciek Jazwiecki / EHRI and POLIN Museum