Ensuring continued operation of INSPIRE as a cornerstone of the HEP information infrastructure

TL;DR

This paper discusses the critical importance of INSPIRE as a central HEP research platform and emphasizes the need for international support and funding to ensure its long-term sustainability amidst resource challenges.

Contribution

It highlights the significance of INSPIRE for HEP research infrastructure and advocates for international collaboration and funding to maintain its operation.

Findings

INSPIRE is vital for HEP research infrastructure.

Resource constraints threaten INSPIRE's sustainability.

International support is essential for long-term operation.

Abstract

The INSPIRE platform -- the most widely-used discovery service specifically tailored to the needs of researchers in High Energy Physics (HEP) -- has become a central component of the information infrastructure for the discipline. Despite this, INSPIRE's continued sustainability is frequently endangered by resource constraints, recently made more acute by the loss of support from historical funders changing their research priorities. If the European particle physics community wishes to ensure INSPIRE's long-term sustainability, the community should secure international support and ensure appropriate funding.