Commissioner Reding calls for extension to RedCLARA-GÉANT2 partnership
Commissioner Viviane Reding has called for an extension to the RedCLARA-GÉANT2 partnership, created by the ALICE project. Speaking at the IV EU-LAC Ministerial Forum on the Information Society held in Lisbon on 28th and 29th April 2006, she stated that the “RedCLARA-GÉANT collaboration has to be highlighted; has to have continuity; has to have an extension” and that this should be the main conclusion of the Forum’s declaration.
In a speech to more than 400 delegates, Reding highlighted the role ICT plays in fostering close relationships between Europe and the Latin American and Caribbean region. ”We need ICT to further and deepen our partnership and in this sense research is one of the fields where there is very strong potential and new opportunities for international cooperation.”
The ALICE project manager, Cathrin Stöver said of the event “It is very encouraging to see the success of ALICE recognised at such a high level within the Commission. Securing the future of RedCLARA will not only benefit the LAC region, but will also strengthen Europe’s research and education community, by providing increased opportunities for collaboration.”
One field of research keen to see the continuation of the RedCLARA-GÉANT2 partnership is within the Grid community. The EELA project (E-infrastructure shared between Europe and Latin America) is creating a collaborative network to share grid infrastructures between the two continents, to drive the development of advanced applications in biomedicine, high energy physics, e-learning and climate modelling. The EELA project receives the support of the European Commission, not only in terms of funding, but also in objective. Reding commented that “The world-leading European grid infrastructures have now been extended to Latin America offering new possibilities for sharing of expensive computing facilities and sophisticated scientific instruments.”
The ALICE project exhibited at the event, in collaboration with its CLARA partners, to demonstrate the success of RedCLARA and outline its future role in strengthening relationships between the two regions. Amongst other exhibitors were @LIS Tech-net, which is actively deploying e-learning platforms between the two regions. It has already benefited from RedCLARA’s implementation and sees potential for expansion. “From the first day of connection with the new RedCLARA capacity, we saw message round trip times halved between partners in Chile, Mexico and Europe. Collaboration was faster than ever” said Steven Willmott from the project. He also highlighted the role that @LIS-funded projects like ALICE and @lis Technet play in testing new technologies. “They provide an advanced testbed to enable researchers in Latin America and Europe to trial new technologies and develop new solutions for the future.”
In her closing words to delegates, Commissioner Reding said “It becomes clear that the interconnection of RedCLARA and GÉANT2 is a major success, and that’s why its important we ensure its reinforcement and its extension in time and towards regions such as the Caribbean, who are so eager to participate. “
You can hear Commissioner Reding’s speech in full, and read the complete Forum declaration, using the links alongside.
