It replaced the Open Source Observatory and Repository (OSOR.eu) and the Semantic Interoperability Centre Europe (SEMIC.eu), themselves communities funded by the ISA Programme.

[2] The platform also raises awareness on free and open source software and semantic interoperability in the public sector.

Examples include Circabc,[6] a document management system, Open e-Prior,[7] a tool to help manage electronic procurement, and OnLine Collection Software for ECI,[8] to help organisations gather signatures that support their request to the European Commission to propose legislation.

[9] In January 2015, the OpenGovernment community[10] was added by the EC's Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology A detailed list of all the potential services someone receives by registering at this platform can be found at JoinUp's website.

The main part of the platform is on three Red Hat Linux hosts, running Apache webserver and Drupal.

There is a sixth Linux host running the MySQL relational database system and a seventh for GNU Mailman.

Also on 21 November 2013, the government of South Australia announced that it would start piloting an internal version of the Joinup platform software and test the use of the EC's Open e-Prior.

However, this focuses not on software packages or semantic assets, but on the storage and distribution of data, such as spreadsheets and the contents of databases.