International Research Networking Tryfon Chiotis GRNET, CTO "Monitoring Committee for Euro- Mediterranean Cooperation in RTD" (MOCO), Vienna, (initial source: David West, DANTE)

International Research Networking Project 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 Objectives To 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 Networking EUMEDCONNECT 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 Networking Who 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 Networking EUMEDGRID Overview January 2006 to December 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) Coordinator  CERN (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 SWIMED Groundwater modeling 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 Networking EUMEDCONNECT Achievements: connectivity

International Research Networking The 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