GÉANT to connect to research network in Sub-Saharan Africa
The heads of research and education networks in Europe and Africa have agreed to embark upon a process that will connect universities and research institutes in Southern and Eastern Africa to the GÉANT high-speed research network. The connection will represent a strategic goal for reinforced EU-African partnership, and the first step in achieving it was taken with the recent establishment of a regional research network for Sub-Saharan Africa, known as the UbuntuNet Alliance. Interconnection of the two networks will facilitate cooperation between African and European researchers in areas of high societal value to both regions. In order to make this a reality, however, the workshop participants concluded that the UbuntuNet Alliance would benefit from a clearer definition of its scope, role and ambitions. It is also considered vital to the success of the initiative that the eventual users of the network are closely involved in the preparatory phase of the project, with researchers making their requirements clear from the outset. Current discussions taking place at the level of funding authorities and national research networks must also be expanded to include senior government officials in all of the partner countries. The UbuntuNet Alliance, in cooperation with the Commission and other international organisations, has committed to launching the necessary preparatory activities in advance of a proposed deployment in 2008. A follow-up meeting between network heads, funding authorities and senior officials will take place in Pretoria in May as part of the IST Africa conference.