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e-Infrastructures in a regional contexte-Infrastructures in a regional context

Leonardo Flores AñoverEuropean Commission - DG INFSO

GÉANT & e-Infrastructures Unit

“The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission”

e-AGE2011 Amman, 12 December 2011

Why global e-Infrastructures?

to enable and empower world-class researchers

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global value of e-Infrastructures the more people, machines and data that are connected the more value of research

(e-Infrastructure externalities)

Why going regional with e-Infrastructures?

critical mass (investments, people, ..)

leveraging effect (e.g. clear policy, legal and regulatory frameworks influence communication

markets)

solidarity and mutuality (bridge geographical and digital divide and foster cooperation with fair -not equal- share of costs)

enabling local operational capacity empowering local communities with technical,

management and administration skills

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Now there is regional connectivity…. What next?

• E-infrastructures are today one of the main engines of scientific progress

• Enormous potential in other social and economic areas • Developing regions stand to benefit in particular

But…. still many challenges and obstacles to overcome,

Reflections have started e.g. UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development

• Broadband and Science WG chaired by EC Vice-President Kroes – Conclusions presented at the Leadership Summit 24 Oct 2011

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1. Global investment priority for sustainable, interoperable, efficient and accessible broadband infrastructures for Open Science, and for many other needed applications e.g. health, education..

2. Robust policies, legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as interoperability at national, regional and global levels

3. Explicit reference to e-Infrastructures in national research, innovation and education policies and in development aid plans, with appropriate funding allocation

4. High political visibility towards governments, regulators and academia of Research and Education Networks (RENs) – key actors in transforming developing economies into knowledge societies

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5. Affordable and fair access to e-infrastructures via national/regional/global RENs, fostering cooperative environments bridging the Digital and Geographical Divides..

6. RENs to spearhead technological and service innovation in partnership with industry

7. Leveraging e-Infrastructures for public service: RENs engaged in other public sectors (e-Health, e-Government, e-Learning, e-Innovation and "e-Capacity Building“)

8. e-Infrastructures to support and encourage the involvement of citizens in science

9. Ensuring Open Access to results from publicly funded research, enabling Open Science with major socio-economic benefits

10.Urgent support to ICT capacity building initiatives (including for RENs to operate e-infrastructures)

Call for action in e-AGE2011

• clear scope for action by all stakeholders (e.g. governments, international organisations, regulators, research community, industry..)

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UN Broadband CommissionBroadband and Science Working Group

http://www.itu.int/net/broadband/How/WorkingGroups/WG-Sci.aspx

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