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The 8ra Initiative is a European initiative aimed at building an open digital infrastructure in Europe. In particular, it seeks to connect different cloud and edge providers through a decentralised Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum (MPCEC).[1][2][3]
Background
[edit]An important funding instrument for implementing the 8ra Initiative is the Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS), a state-aid project supported by several EU member states. It was launched under the German Council Presidency and was approved under EU state-aid rules in 2023. It provides the legal and financial basis for projects implemented under the programme.[3][4][5]
Around 120 partners from industry and research in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia are involved. With EUR 1.2 billion in state aid and a further EUR 1.4 billion in private investment, the initiative has been described as the largest open-source project in the history of the European Union.[1][3][6][7]
The initiative is organised into four technological workstreams that build on one another, as well as two cross-cutting workstreams:
- Workstream 1: “Cloud Edge Continuum Infrastructure” [8]: Provides the technological foundations for the MPCEC. This includes infrastructure development and the creation of the required networking components.
- Workstream 2: “Cloud Edge Capabilities”[9]: Brings together and integrates distributed resources. Key topics include reference architectures, virtualisation technologies, orchestration, and secure integration between cloud and edge systems.
- Workstream 3: “Advanced Smart Data Processing Tools and Services” [10]: Focuses on developing modular cloud-edge services and tools for data processing and provision within the MPCEC.
- Workstream 4: “Advanced Applications” [11]: Focuses on identifying and developing cross-sector use cases for cloud-edge technologies.
In addition to the four technological workstreams, two cross-cutting workstreams address issues such as security, sustainability, energy efficiency, and resilience.[1][2][3]
Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum
[edit]The planned Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum (MPCEC) has been described as „a seamless integration of central data storage and making computing power available closer to the data sources“.[6]The idea behind the MPCEC is to combine cloud and edge computing within a single infrastructure so that resources and applications can be flexibly distributed between cloud and edge environments. By using open standards, it aims to enable interoperability between different providers and technologies.[1][2][3] [[Category:European Union technology policy]]
- ^ a b c d "About the 8ra Initiative". 8ra. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- ^ a b c "Multi-Provider Cloud-Edge Continuum". 8ra. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- ^ a b c d e 8ra, IPCEI-CIS Reference Architecture, Version 2.0, January 2026, accessed 25 March 2026.
- ^ Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany), IPCEI Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services, accessed 25 March 2026.
- ^ Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany), European Commission approves major European cloud project, 5 December 2023, accessed 25 March 2026.
- ^ a b 8ra, Laying the Groundwork for Europe’s Federated Cloud-Edge Future – 8ra, accessed 25 March 2026.
- ^ Stefan Krempl, EU states work on the open-source "hyper cloud" 8ra, Heise online, 22 May 2025, accessed 25 March 2026.
- ^ European Commission, Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS) – RRF. Brussels, 5 December 2023, section 2.3.2.1 (“WS 1 – Cloud Edge Continuum Infrastructure”).
- ^ European Commission, Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS) – RRF. Brussels, 5 December 2023, section 2.3.2.2 (“WS 2 – Cloud Edge Capabilities”).
- ^ European Commission, Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS) – RRF. Brussels, 5 December 2023, section 2.3.2.3 (“WS 3 – Advanced Smart Data Processing Tools and Services”).
- ^ European Commission, Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS) – RRF. Brussels, 5 December 2023, section 2.3.2.4 (“WS 4 – Advanced Applications”).