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OSIRIS project to guide ICT research infrastructures

[Date: 2010-07-14]

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A new consortium has started work on an international strategy for open and sustainable information and communications technology (ICT) research infrastructures. The OSIRIS ('Towards an open and sustainable ICT research infrastructure strategy) project, funded with EUR 818,367 from the 'Information and Communication Technologies' Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), will create a platform to develop cross-border public-private partnerships (PPPs), and will establish a model for future large-scale investment in these important networks, facilities and services.

The consortium, led by Ghent University's Institute for Broadband Technology (IBBT) in Belgium, will focus on infrastructures supporting high-performance computing, grids, networks, microelectronics, nanoelectronics and future versions of the Internet. Members comprise ICT experts and public authorities from 13 EU Member States and several other countries, including Switzerland and Turkey.

OSIRIS draws on the expertise of ICT National Champions, who have experience in providing reliable and impartial ICT advice to non-profit organisations. ICT Champions identify gaps in regional ICT support services and find ways to fill them, working with existing local infrastructure providers and sharing best practices across regions.

Currently, European ICT research infrastructures do not have a clearly defined operation strategy. Nor is there an established 'common vision' on how best to conduct ICT research and development activities using these facilities and services. In addition, identifying promising PPPs remains a challenge. And while financing instruments have been developed specifically for the ICT community, OSIRIS partners believe that such funding needs to be made more visible.

OSIRIS kicked off with a survey on perceptions of the challenges of building ICT research facilities, networks and services. The consortium has set up a platform to provide ongoing and relevant feedback and analysis of European ICT research infrastructures. This platform will help the relevant stakeholders to develop common methodologies across regions and to share best practices.

OSIRIS plans to establish procedures, rules and management mechanisms for future coordinated investments. This will help coordinate investments in large-scale, transnational ICT research infrastructures. They also plan to develop models for the sustainable financing of European ICT research infrastructures, with an emphasis on common planning of investment policies.

Innovation is the driving force behind OSIRIS. The project activities are expected to increase Europe's competitiveness in the ICT field by creating an environment that encourages researchers to develop their products and get them on the market. Fostering collaboration will also help reduce costs, thus increasing the chances of return on investment for participating countries.

For more information, please visit:

The OSIRIS project:
http://www.osiris-online.eu

Ghent University Institute for Broadband Technology:
http://www.ibcn.intec.ugent.be/