Digital Earth is a visionary concept for the virtual representation of the Earth that is spatially referenced, interconnected with the world's digital data repositories, and encompassing all its systems and forms, including Earth Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Monitoring system and human society dimensions. The project will establish open data and services access, allowing European and worldwide Digital Earth Communities to seamlessly access, produce and share data, information, products and knowledge. This will create a multi-dimensional, multi-temporal, and multi-layer information facility of huge value in addressing global challenges such as biodiversity, climate change, pollution and economic development. GENESI-DEC evolves and enlarges the platform developed by the predecessor GENESI-DR project by federating to and interoperating with existing infrastructures. GENESI-DEC will:•Enlarge the GENESI-DR infrastructures in terms of both resources availability and geographical extent.•Provide guaranteed, reliable, easy, effective access to a variety of data, facilities, and applications to an ever increasing number of scientists and users.•Harmonise operations at selected key infrastructures limiting fragmentation of solutions and assure that the access to data and resources is secure and controlled, according to policies.•Enable multidisciplinary collaboration among communities and the creation of user-configured virtual research facilities.•Integrate new scientific and technological paradigms in operational infrastructures in response to the latest Digital Earth requirements.•Stimulate, educate and support the creation of virtual research communities.GENESI-DEC involves key partners of ESFRI projects and collaborates with key actors of Digital Earth and Earth Science initiatives, including the International Society of Digital Earth and GEO-GEOSS. Thus efficient use of already existing and planned developments is guaranteed