Collaboration on e-Infrastructure
The Nordic countries have signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding to continue the Nordic e-Infrastructure Collaboration (NeIC). This is an historical, long-term agreement that gives stability and political support to the e-Infrastructure sphere. This story begins with a satisfied cast of characters: researchers, administrators, research funders and policymakers. Which is rather unusual as it involves large investments in an area only few people understand. The general satisfaction stems from the signing of an agreement by Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden to continue Nordic cooperation on e-Infrastructure for another 10 years. The NeIC began 10 years ago in the form of a pilot project known as the Nordic Data Grid Facility (NDGF) which developed e-Infrastructure from the data produced at CERN. Since then the organisation has
evolved into what is now known as the NeIC, which is administered by NordForsk.
Long-term political support Why the political support? Pentti Pulkkinen, Director of the Management Support Unit at the Academy of Finland and chair of the NeIC, offers an answer: – Both the national research councils and e-Infrastructure providers are highly dedicated, and they view the NeIC as a good platform for cooperation. This is the reason that a 10-year renewal is possible. There is, quite simply, added value in the NeIC. And the fact that the NeIC is now administered by NordForsk makes it even more natural for the research councils which are already
cooperating via NordForsk to cooperate here as well, says Dr Pulkkinen. Gunnel Gustafsson, Director of NordForsk, is pleased to host the NeIC: – The long-term e-Infrastructure con tracts between NordForsk and the research organisations in the Nordic countries show that there is confidence in NordForsk’s continued role as a platform that can generate added value through cooperation. This collaborative effort across national borders has the potential to lead to many positive results. Among the most important of these are new knowledge that can be used by researchers, decision-makers and others, international visibility, and a Nordic region that is more attractive internationally. – The NeIC has come of age. It is a collaboration that we can and want to have a dialogue with and that is evolving all the time. The Nordic countries have different needs, but history has shown us that most of these are common problems. It is crucial that the NeIC functions in a flexible manner and can facilitate cooperation at the crossnational level, explains Dr Pulkkinen.
– All researchers can use the Internet, and soon all of them will be able to use e-Infrastructures Pentti Pulkkinen
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