What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to propose recommendations for improving digital research infrastructures in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) based on the GRAPHIA project's findings.

July 2, 2026Open Access

D6.3 Policy Brief 1

Key Points

The aim is to propose recommendations for improving digital research infrastructures in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) based on the GRAPHIA project's findings.
Analyzed progress from the first 16 months of the GRAPHIA Horizon Europe project.
Developed a federated knowledge graph connecting data from multiple SSH research infrastructures.
Identified practical use cases for the SSH knowledge graph and AI services.
Established foundational reference model with the GRAPHIA Ontology and Technical Architecture.
Outlined three key recommendations for EU decision-makers regarding investment in FAIR-compliant infrastructures.
Developed eight initial use cases demonstrating the value of the SSH Knowledge Graph.

Abstract

This policy brief draws on the first 16 months of GRAPHIA, a 36-month Horizon Europe project, to set out recommendations for strengthening digital research infrastructures in SSH. Its central message: the SSH community now has the technical means to overcome long-standing data fragmentation, but realising this potential depends on targeted and sustained European Union (EU) policy support. The evidence base is GRAPHIA 's progress to date. The project is building the first federated knowledge graph for SSH, connecting heterogeneous data from five research infrastructures (OPERAS, EHRI, E-RIHS, RESILIENCE and GGP) through a federated gateway and the Scientific Knowledge Graph – Interoperability Framework (SKG-IF). It has delivered the foundational reference model (the GRAPHIA Ontology and Technical Architecture), a catalogue of next-generation SSH instruments, and domain-specific AI services such as Large Language Models for SSH (LLM4SSH) and an SSH Citation Index. In parallel, use cases demonstrating the added value of the SSH Knowledge Graph and associated instruments are being developed. Eight, including both industry and academia, were identified at the time of writing the project proposal (EHRI, CNRS MAP, Cyprus institute, CNR, GGP and GESIS, Genius Loci, Resilience and OAEBUDT). These will be described and published as part of a report due at the end of the project. Through 2025 and 2026, 12 further viable commercial SSH use cases were published as part of the Industry Hub. On this basis, the brief makes three recommendations to EU decision-makers: sustain investment in open-source, Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR)-compliant data infrastructure for SSH; support interoperability standards that enable cross-Research Infrastructures (RI) federation; and establish bridging instruments between project-based R&D and the long-term operational funding of shared digital services. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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