International Research Networking

Tryfon ChiotisGRNET, CTO

"Monitoring Committee for Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation in RTD" (MOCO) ,

Vienna, 29-6-2006(initial source: David West, DANTE)

International Research NetworkingProject Partners• MED partners/beneficiaries:

– Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey

• EU partners:- National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) of

France, Greece, Italy and Spain

• Coordinating Partner - DANTE• Funded up to 10 M EURO/80% by European

Commission – DG AIDCO EUMEDIS programme• Remaining funding - from beneficiaries• Contracted - to June 2006, recently extended to

July 2007

International Research Networking

EUMEDCONNECT ObjectivesTo establish an electronic, Internet-based network in the

Mediterranean region to:• Connect MED Partners’ research and education communities to Europe

via GÉANT• Enable research and educational collaboration within the MED region

Thereby:– Ease the EU-MED research networking ‘digital divide’– Strengthen human relationships and stability

International Research Networking

Challenges (have changed little during the programme)

• Monopoly national operators• Limited international telecoms infrastructure and poor

investment conditions• Unaffordably high commercial prices• De-regulation slow, competition weak• No consortium• Difficult political climate

International Research NetworkingEUMEDCONNECT Topology

International Research Networking

“I just returned from an EUMEDIS monitoring mission to Tunisia and some of the partners I met had just got installed the cable for the EUMEDCONNECT network. They were EXTREMELY happy about it! From a poor telephone connection, they were at 1 MB connection…. The first day the installation was made, they did not even want to go home after working hours as they were enjoying the access to the internet! “

Comments made to Annegrete Lausten by CETTEX: Centre Technique du Textile

EUMEDCONNECT –The User Response

International Research NetworkingWho is using EUMEDCONNECT?

• 11 Mediterranean countries connected directly or via GEANT2• Over 180 Mediterranean universities and research centres and

1M+ users connected for first time• EUMEDIS Pilot projects, e.g.

– STRABON (tourism and culture) – using EUMEDCONNECT in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia

– MEDFORIST (e-Business learning) – moved server from Paris to Rabat in July 2005

• EUMEDGRID – first Mediterranean grid computing project…

International Research NetworkingEUMEDGRID Overview

• January 2006 to December 2007• 14 partners: 9 EU Member States or AS, 5 non-MS.• Establish a human network in the eScience area, enlarge

and train this community, and establish a pilot Grid infrastructure supporting proof of concept regional applications.

• Build upon and exploit the GRID infrastructure of EGEE and the network infrastructure of GEANT2 and EUMEDCONNECT.

International Research Networking

Participants and Third Parties

INFN (Italy) CoordinatorCERN (Switzerland)CYNET (Cyprus)DANTE (UK)GARR (Italy)GRNET (Greece)RED.ES (Spain)University of Malta (Malta)CERIST (Algeria)CNRST (Morocco)EUN (Egypt)HIAST (Syria)RNRST (Tunisia)

TUBITAK - ULAKBIM (Turkey)University of Messina – Dep. of Mathematics

(Italy)University of RomaTre - Dep. of Physics (Italy)CRS4 (Italy)ICTP (Italy)IUCC (Israel)Laboratoire CRISTAL (Tunisia)University of Tunis - Research Unit of ICT (Tunisia)Bilkent University (Turkey)JUNet (Jordan)PADI2 (Palestine)

International Research Networking

SWIMEDGroundwater modeling

6.60E+05 6.70E+05 6.80E+05

4.04E+06

4.05E+06

4.06E+06

4.07E+06

H [m.a.s.l]

1601208040201050

-2

N

• Aim: estimate sustainable extraction scheme - improve management• CODESA-3D: Density-dependent 3D coupled groundwater flow and transport simulations • Data requirement

- Geology - Topography - Meteorology - Water extraction by the farmer - Aquifer properties - Soil maps - Land use

International Research NetworkingEUMEDCONNECT Achievements: connectivity

International Connectivity 2002 and 2005 Mbps

0

50

100

150

200

Algeria Egypt Morocco Tunisia

2002

2005

0

50

100

150

200

Algeria Egypt Morocco Tunisia

International Connectivity 2005 Mbps

EUMEDCONNECT

Other

International Research NetworkingThe Way Ahead

• EC has agreed EUMEDCONNECT can be extended beyond June 2006 to 14 July 2007 without new money– just achievable

• Issue of keeping EUMEDCONNECT for EUMEDGRID and other users to end 2007 (earliest any further EC funding expected)– Work underway to seek short term circuit donations and higher

beneficiary subscriptions but outcome not assured• ‘EUMEDCONNECT2’ being planned from late 2007

– European Neighbourhood Programme appears most hopeful funding instrument but few details yet available, outcome therefore very uncertain