MEDem has been included in the ESFRI Roadmap 2026!
Big News: MEDem has been selected for inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap 2026!
Following a rigorous evaluation by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), MEDem is one of only six proposals approved for inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap 2026 and the only new infrastructure project in the Social Sciences and Humanities. For MEDem, this marks another important step forward and reflects years of work towards building a sustainable, distributed research infrastructure for Democracy Research in Europe.
This recognition comes at a crucial moment. As democratic institutions across Europe and beyond face growing pressure, reliable data and independent research matter more than ever. MEDem is being built to make democracy data more findable, comparable, and linkable. It brings together data on voters and parties, parliaments and governments, as well as journalism and political communication, amongst many others, while developing shared standards, interfaces, and digital tools for discovering, harmonizing, linking, and visualizing these data.
What is ESFRI?
ESFRI is the key European forum for coordinating long-term strategy and policy on research infrastructures. It brings together representatives of European countries and the European Commission to identify, support, and strengthen evolving research infrastructures.
One of ESFRI’s central tasks is the development of the ESFRI Roadmap. The Roadmap identifies research infrastructures that are considered strategically important for Europe’s research system over the coming decades. Inclusion in the Roadmap is therefore an important recognition: it signals that a proposed infrastructure addresses a major scientific and societal need, has clear pan-European relevance, and has passed a demanding evaluation process.
What inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap means for MEDem
For MEDem, inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap 2026 means entering the next phase on a much stronger footing. It brings greater strategic recognition and better conditions for progressing towards becoming a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). An ERIC is a specific European legal form designed to facilitate the establishment and operation of research infrastructures of European interest.
This, however, does not mean that the work is complete. Rather, it marks the beginning of a new phase in which MEDem can further develop its services, governance structures, partnerships, and long-term sustainability. The Roadmap inclusion strengthens MEDem’s position as it moves from a successful proposal towards a fully operational European research infrastructure.
What inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap means for the Community
For the MEDem Community, especially the National Consortia and Data Networks, inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap means that the work, data, and expertise contributed to MEDem are now part of an infrastructure with greater visibility, stronger institutional backing, and a more clearly defined path forward.
For users, including researchers and external stakeholders such as data journalists, this matters because it strengthens the prospects that MEDem will be able to develop and sustain the services it is designed to provide, including tools for finding, accessing, and linking democracy data across different countries, time periods, and data types.
What inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap means for the Community
Reaching ESFRI roadmap status has only been possible through the work, commitment, and support of many partners and contributors over the years. MEDem is supported by 15 European governments, more than 100 institutions, and more than 1000 individual researchers. This achievement reflects the work and commitment of many partners and contributors over the years. MEDem would not be where it is today without the trust, collaboration, and dedication of the MEDem National Consortia and the MEDem Data Networks.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. At the MEDem HQ and across the MEDem Service Centers, we look forward to continuing this journey together.
We are excited about what comes next!
The European infrastructure for unlocking the true potential of data-driven democracy research