diff --git a/packages/database/supabase/migrations/20250611180757_concept_upsert_functions.sql b/packages/database/supabase/migrations/20250611180757_concept_upsert_functions.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ba337465d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/database/supabase/migrations/20250611180757_concept_upsert_functions.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+CREATE TYPE public.concept_local_input AS (
+    -- concept columns
+    epistemic_status public."EpistemicStatus",
+    name character varying,
+    description text,
+    author_id bigint,
+    created timestamp without time zone,
+    last_modified timestamp without time zone,
+    space_id bigint,
+    schema_id bigint,
+    literal_content jsonb,
+    is_schema boolean,
+    represented_by_id bigint,
+    reference_content jsonb,
+    -- local values
+    author_local_id VARCHAR,
+    represented_by_local_id VARCHAR,
+    schema_represented_by_local_id VARCHAR,
+    space_url VARCHAR,
+    local_reference_content JSONB
+);
+
+
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.local_concept_to_db_concept(data public.concept_local_input) RETURNS public."Concept" LANGUAGE plpgsql STABLE AS $$
+DECLARE
+  concept public."Concept"%ROWTYPE;
+  reference_content JSONB := jsonb_build_object();
+  key varchar;
+  value JSONB;
+  ref_single_val BIGINT;
+  ref_array_val BIGINT[];
+BEGIN
+  -- not fan of going through json, but not finding how to populate a record by a different shape record
+  concept := jsonb_populate_record(NULL::public."Concept", to_jsonb(data));
+  IF data.author_local_id IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT id FROM public."PlatformAccount"
+      WHERE account_local_id = data.author_local_id INTO concept.author_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.represented_by_local_id IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT id FROM public."Content"
+      WHERE source_local_id = data.represented_by_local_id INTO concept.represented_by_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.space_url IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT id FROM public."Space"
+    WHERE url = data.space_url INTO concept.space_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.schema_represented_by_local_id IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT cpt.id FROM public."Concept" cpt
+      JOIN public."Content" AS cnt ON cpt.represented_by_id = cnt.id
+      WHERE cnt.source_local_id = data.schema_represented_by_local_id INTO concept.schema_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.local_reference_content IS NOT NULL THEN
+    FOR key, value IN SELECT * FROM jsonb_each(data.local_reference_content) LOOP
+      IF jsonb_typeof(value) = 'array' THEN
+        WITH el AS (SELECT jsonb_array_elements_text(value) as x),
+        ela AS (SELECT array_agg(x) AS a FROM el)
+        SELECT array_agg(DISTINCT cpt.id) INTO STRICT ref_array_val
+            FROM public."Concept" AS cpt
+            JOIN public."Content" AS cnt ON (cpt.represented_by_id = cnt.id)
+            JOIN ela ON (true) WHERE cnt.source_local_id = ANY(ela.a);
+        reference_content := jsonb_set(reference_content, ARRAY[key], to_jsonb(ref_array_val));
+      ELSIF jsonb_typeof(value) = 'string' THEN
+        SELECT cpt.id INTO STRICT ref_single_val
+            FROM public."Concept" AS cpt
+            JOIN public."Content" AS cnt ON (cpt.represented_by_id = cnt.id)
+            WHERE cnt.source_local_id = (value #>> '{}');
+        reference_content := jsonb_set(reference_content, ARRAY[key], to_jsonb(ref_single_val));
+      ELSE
+        RAISE EXCEPTION 'Invalid value in local_reference_content % %', value, jsonb_typeof(value);
+      END IF;
+    END LOOP;
+    SELECT reference_content INTO concept.reference_content;
+  END IF;
+  RETURN concept;
+END;
+$$;
+
+
+
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.upsert_concepts(v_space_id bigint, data jsonb)
+RETURNS SETOF BIGINT
+LANGUAGE plpgsql
+AS $$
+DECLARE
+  v_platform public."Platform";
+  local_concept public.concept_local_input;
+  db_concept public."Concept"%ROWTYPE;
+  concept_row JSONB;
+  concept_id BIGINT;
+BEGIN
+  SELECT platform INTO STRICT v_platform FROM public."Space" WHERE id=v_space_id;
+  FOR concept_row IN SELECT * FROM jsonb_array_elements(data)
+  LOOP
+    -- first set defaults
+    local_concept := jsonb_populate_record(NULL::public.concept_local_input, '{"epistemic_status": "unknown", "literal_content":{},"reference_content":{},"is_schema":false}');
+    -- then input values
+    local_concept := jsonb_populate_record(local_concept, concept_row);
+    local_concept.space_id := v_space_id;
+    db_concept := public.local_concept_to_db_concept(local_concept);
+    BEGIN
+        -- cannot use db_concept.* because of refs.
+        INSERT INTO public."Concept" (
+        epistemic_status, name, description, author_id, created, last_modified, space_id, schema_id, literal_content, is_schema, represented_by_id, reference_content
+        ) VALUES (
+        db_concept.epistemic_status, db_concept.name, db_concept.description, db_concept.author_id, db_concept.created, db_concept.last_modified, db_concept.space_id, db_concept.schema_id, db_concept.literal_content, db_concept.is_schema, db_concept.represented_by_id, db_concept.reference_content
+        )
+        ON CONFLICT (represented_by_id) DO UPDATE SET
+            epistemic_status = db_concept.epistemic_status,
+            name = db_concept.name,
+            description = db_concept.description,
+            author_id = db_concept.author_id,
+            created = db_concept.created,
+            last_modified = db_concept.last_modified,
+            space_id = db_concept.space_id,
+            schema_id = db_concept.schema_id,
+            literal_content = db_concept.literal_content,
+            is_schema = db_concept.is_schema,
+            reference_content = db_concept.reference_content
+        -- ON CONFLICT (space_id, name) DO NOTHING... why can't I specify two conflict clauses?
+        RETURNING id INTO concept_id;
+        RETURN NEXT concept_id;
+    EXCEPTION
+        WHEN unique_violation THEN
+            -- a distinct unique constraint failed
+            RAISE WARNING 'Concept with space_id: % and name % already exists', v_space_id, local_concept.name;
+            RETURN NEXT -1; -- Return a special value to indicate conflict
+    END;
+  END LOOP;
+  RAISE DEBUG 'Completed upsert_content successfully';
+END;
+$$;
diff --git a/packages/database/supabase/schemas/concept.sql b/packages/database/supabase/schemas/concept.sql
index e42498568..d2de3fab6 100644
--- a/packages/database/supabase/schemas/concept.sql
+++ b/packages/database/supabase/schemas/concept.sql
@@ -111,3 +111,138 @@ ADD CONSTRAINT "Concept_space_id_fkey" FOREIGN KEY (
 GRANT ALL ON TABLE public."Concept" TO anon;
 GRANT ALL ON TABLE public."Concept" TO authenticated;
 GRANT ALL ON TABLE public."Concept" TO service_role;
+
+
+CREATE TYPE public.concept_local_input AS (
+    -- concept columns
+    epistemic_status public."EpistemicStatus",
+    name character varying,
+    description text,
+    author_id bigint,
+    created timestamp without time zone,
+    last_modified timestamp without time zone,
+    space_id bigint,
+    schema_id bigint,
+    literal_content jsonb,
+    is_schema boolean,
+    represented_by_id bigint,
+    reference_content jsonb,
+    -- local values
+    author_local_id VARCHAR,
+    represented_by_local_id VARCHAR,
+    schema_represented_by_local_id VARCHAR,
+    space_url VARCHAR,
+    local_reference_content JSONB
+);
+
+-- private function. Transform concept with local (platform) references to concept with db references
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public._local_concept_to_db_concept(data public.concept_local_input) RETURNS public."Concept" LANGUAGE plpgsql STABLE AS $$
+DECLARE
+  concept public."Concept"%ROWTYPE;
+  reference_content JSONB := jsonb_build_object();
+  key varchar;
+  value JSONB;
+  ref_single_val BIGINT;
+  ref_array_val BIGINT[];
+BEGIN
+  -- not fan of going through json, but not finding how to populate a record by a different shape record
+  concept := jsonb_populate_record(NULL::public."Concept", to_jsonb(data));
+  IF data.author_local_id IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT id FROM public."PlatformAccount"
+      WHERE account_local_id = data.author_local_id INTO concept.author_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.represented_by_local_id IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT id FROM public."Content"
+      WHERE source_local_id = data.represented_by_local_id INTO concept.represented_by_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.space_url IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT id FROM public."Space"
+    WHERE url = data.space_url INTO concept.space_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.schema_represented_by_local_id IS NOT NULL THEN
+    SELECT cpt.id FROM public."Concept" cpt
+      JOIN public."Content" AS cnt ON cpt.represented_by_id = cnt.id
+      WHERE cnt.source_local_id = data.schema_represented_by_local_id INTO concept.schema_id;
+  END IF;
+  IF data.local_reference_content IS NOT NULL THEN
+    FOR key, value IN SELECT * FROM jsonb_each(data.local_reference_content) LOOP
+      IF jsonb_typeof(value) = 'array' THEN
+        WITH el AS (SELECT jsonb_array_elements_text(value) as x),
+        ela AS (SELECT array_agg(x) AS a FROM el)
+        SELECT array_agg(DISTINCT cpt.id) INTO STRICT ref_array_val
+            FROM public."Concept" AS cpt
+            JOIN public."Content" AS cnt ON (cpt.represented_by_id = cnt.id)
+            JOIN ela ON (true) WHERE cnt.source_local_id = ANY(ela.a);
+        reference_content := jsonb_set(reference_content, ARRAY[key], to_jsonb(ref_array_val));
+      ELSIF jsonb_typeof(value) = 'string' THEN
+        SELECT cpt.id INTO STRICT ref_single_val
+            FROM public."Concept" AS cpt
+            JOIN public."Content" AS cnt ON (cpt.represented_by_id = cnt.id)
+            WHERE cnt.source_local_id = (value #>> '{}');
+        reference_content := jsonb_set(reference_content, ARRAY[key], to_jsonb(ref_single_val));
+      ELSE
+        RAISE EXCEPTION 'Invalid value in local_reference_content % %', value, jsonb_typeof(value);
+      END IF;
+    END LOOP;
+    SELECT reference_content INTO concept.reference_content;
+  END IF;
+  RETURN concept;
+END;
+$$;
+
+-- The data should be an array of LocalConcept, i.e. in TS,
+-- Partial<Database['public']["CompositeTypes"]["concept_local_input"]>;
+-- Concepts are upserted, based on represented_by_id. New (or old) IDs are returned.
+-- name conflicts will cause an insertion failure, and the ID will be given as -1
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.upsert_concepts(v_space_id bigint, data jsonb)
+RETURNS SETOF BIGINT
+LANGUAGE plpgsql
+AS $$
+DECLARE
+  v_platform public."Platform";
+  local_concept public.concept_local_input;
+  db_concept public."Concept"%ROWTYPE;
+  concept_row JSONB;
+  concept_id BIGINT;
+BEGIN
+  SELECT platform INTO STRICT v_platform FROM public."Space" WHERE id=v_space_id;
+  FOR concept_row IN SELECT * FROM jsonb_array_elements(data)
+  LOOP
+    -- first set defaults
+    local_concept := jsonb_populate_record(NULL::public.concept_local_input, '{"epistemic_status": "unknown", "literal_content":{},"reference_content":{},"is_schema":false}');
+    -- then input values
+    local_concept := jsonb_populate_record(local_concept, concept_row);
+    local_concept.space_id := v_space_id;
+    db_concept := public._local_concept_to_db_concept(local_concept);
+    BEGIN
+        -- cannot use db_concept.* because of refs.
+        INSERT INTO public."Concept" (
+        epistemic_status, name, description, author_id, created, last_modified, space_id, schema_id, literal_content, is_schema, represented_by_id, reference_content
+        ) VALUES (
+        db_concept.epistemic_status, db_concept.name, db_concept.description, db_concept.author_id, db_concept.created, db_concept.last_modified, db_concept.space_id, db_concept.schema_id, db_concept.literal_content, db_concept.is_schema, db_concept.represented_by_id, db_concept.reference_content
+        )
+        ON CONFLICT (represented_by_id) DO UPDATE SET
+            epistemic_status = db_concept.epistemic_status,
+            name = db_concept.name,
+            description = db_concept.description,
+            author_id = db_concept.author_id,
+            created = db_concept.created,
+            last_modified = db_concept.last_modified,
+            space_id = db_concept.space_id,
+            schema_id = db_concept.schema_id,
+            literal_content = db_concept.literal_content,
+            is_schema = db_concept.is_schema,
+            reference_content = db_concept.reference_content
+        -- ON CONFLICT (space_id, name) DO NOTHING... why can't I specify two conflict clauses?
+        RETURNING id INTO concept_id;
+        RETURN NEXT concept_id;
+    EXCEPTION
+        WHEN unique_violation THEN
+            -- a distinct unique constraint failed
+            RAISE WARNING 'Concept with space_id: % and name % already exists', v_space_id, local_concept.name;
+            RETURN NEXT -1; -- Return a special value to indicate conflict
+    END;
+  END LOOP;
+  RAISE DEBUG 'Completed upsert_content successfully';
+END;
+$$;
diff --git a/packages/database/types.gen.ts b/packages/database/types.gen.ts
index 70e5419ee..d51840308 100644
--- a/packages/database/types.gen.ts
+++ b/packages/database/types.gen.ts
@@ -543,6 +543,28 @@ export type Database = {
           uid_to_sync: string
         }[]
       }
+      local_concept_to_db_concept: {
+        Args: {
+          data: Database["public"]["CompositeTypes"]["concept_local_input"]
+        }
+        Returns: {
+          arity: number
+          author_id: number | null
+          created: string
+          description: string | null
+          epistemic_status: Database["public"]["Enums"]["EpistemicStatus"]
+          id: number
+          is_schema: boolean
+          last_modified: string
+          literal_content: Json
+          name: string
+          reference_content: Json
+          refs: number[]
+          represented_by_id: number | null
+          schema_id: number | null
+          space_id: number
+        }
+      }
       match_content_embeddings: {
         Args: {
           query_embedding: string
@@ -576,6 +598,10 @@ export type Database = {
         }
         Returns: unknown
       }
+      upsert_concepts: {
+        Args: { v_space_id: number; data: Json }
+        Returns: number[]
+      }
       upsert_discourse_nodes: {
         Args: {
           p_space_name: string
@@ -644,7 +670,25 @@ export type Database = {
       task_status: "active" | "timeout" | "complete" | "failed"
     }
     CompositeTypes: {
-      [_ in never]: never
+      concept_local_input: {
+        epistemic_status: Database["public"]["Enums"]["EpistemicStatus"] | null
+        name: string | null
+        description: string | null
+        author_id: number | null
+        created: string | null
+        last_modified: string | null
+        space_id: number | null
+        schema_id: number | null
+        literal_content: Json | null
+        is_schema: boolean | null
+        represented_by_id: number | null
+        reference_content: Json | null
+        author_local_id: string | null
+        represented_by_local_id: string | null
+        schema_represented_by_local_id: string | null
+        space_url: string | null
+        local_reference_content: Json | null
+      }
     }
   }
 }