Jul 9 2010
IBBT announces that it is leading the project OSIRIS under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission. The €1.2M project brings together Public Authorities and National Champions across 13 EU Members States and Associated Countries and regions with direct links to existing and future ICT European Research Infrastructures (RIs). The target RIs are in High Performance Computing, Grids, Networks, Micro/Nanoelectronics and Future Internet.
The main aim of the OSIRIS project initiative is to build a platform, mechanism and models required to secure an efficient involvement of Member States, Associated countries and regions in order to develop cross border public-public partnerships and establish a coordinated approach to future large scale investments in transnational European ICT RIs.
The OSIRIS consortium was established to tackle a number of issues facing European Research Infrastructures. Currently there is a lack of both a clearly defined operation strategy and a common policy between Public Authorities and National Champions. Additionally there is a lack of a common vision on how to operate and cooperate in R&D activities in the context of European RIs and an absence of a means to identify possible private-public partnerships. Finally, there is a need for cross-validated models and guidelines for future European ICT RIs and a necessity to establish close contact with new instruments developed for the ICT community.
OSIRIS aims to address these issues in a number of ways. The first will be by establishing a platform to provide continuous analysis and recommendations on existing and future European ICT RIs regarding cross-border shared methodologies and best practices.
In addition, procedures, rules and management mechanisms will be developed to coordinate investments in large scale transnational ICT RIs throughout Europe. Finally, sustainability models and recommendations for future coordinated investments within and across European ICT RIs will be developed, with an emphasis on complementary or common planning of investments and investment policies.
It is anticipated that the results of the OSIRIS project will lead to an increased competitiveness of European countries in the ICT area by creating an innovative friendly environment and increase in collaboration leading to reduced cost and ensuring a return on investment to the participating member states and associated countries.
Participants in the OSIRIS Project are: IBBT (Belgium, Coordinator), IWT (Belgium), IMEC (Belgium), CSIR (South Africa), CSEM (Switzerland), MHEST (Slovenia) NCF (Netherlands), Tubitak (Turkey), Tyndall Institute (Ireland), ISERD (Israel), INFN (Italy), MFA (Hungary), IMCS (Latvia), IZM (Latvia), AVCR (Czech Republic), CESNET (Czech Republic), UPSUD (France).
Source: Cordis