It might not be the merger of Facebook and Instagram, but for those that work in college IT, this is a big deal. Not-for-profit technology companies Jisc and Eduserv have announced they will merge in the new year.

Jisc is very much the larger partner, with a portfolio of more than 100 products and services for colleges across the UK, including the national research and education network Janet and cybersecurity products. It has a staff of more than 620.

Eduserv, which hopes not to disappear without trace, has 100 Bristol-based employees and focuses on digital transformation, identity and access management, licensing and cloud solutions for local government, public bodies, healthcare, charities, higher education and emergency services.

The two will begin operating as one from 1 January 2019, but they stress that existing staff and services will be retained, and they will keep their individual identities and websites after the merger date. In time, however, the new entity will be brought together under the Jisc brand. 

Jisc chief executive Paul Feldman insisted that this was “an exciting step forward in how we support and enable the education and wider public sector, while taking advantage of the technologies driving Industry 4.0. Together, Jisc and Eduserv will have greater scope to co-create innovative products and services to meet the needs and expectations of students and citizens, without duplication of effort, time and money.”

Eduserv chief executive Jude Sheeran, who will take up the position of a trustee on the Jisc board from January, said: “In a truly digital age, it is vital for the UK that a not-for-profit, socially driven technology player of scale emerges.

“From our roots in education to our more recent work with government and charities, our mission has always been to enable organisations to put digital technology to work for the benefit of society.”