The Works of DANTE - Issue 6
TEIN2 receives endorsement from Asian and European leaders
Heads of State at ASEM 6 Summit acknowledge important role of TEIN2
Leaders from 38 European and Asian countries have endorsed TEIN2’s success in “extending connectivity between the two regions in the fields of research and education, and support “its application in broader areas”. The two-day ASEM 6 (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit in Helsinki concluded on 11 September 2006, with a Chairman’s declaration that emphasised the role of TEIN2 in linking Europe and Asia.
Furthermore, Leaders “recognised that investments in know-how and knowledge infrastructures play a key role in the promotion of scientific excellence, competitiveness and well being in societies.” They also discussed ways to “enhance cooperation in the fields of innovation, science and technology between all ASEM partners, and emphasised the importance of EU Research Framework Programmes.”
DANTE’s David West, TEIN2 Project Manager said “I am delighted that the success of TEIN2 has been recognised at the highest levels of ASEM. TEIN2 already connects 30 million across region, and this is set to increase rapidly as partners' national networks grow, and as further partners join the programme in the future.”
As part of the Summit, a press conference was held to celebrate the official
launch of the network and to announce the latest candidates interested in joining the TEIN2 community. Discussions are on-going with several additional ASEM partners, including Brunei, Hong Kong, Laos and Cambodia. Speakers outlined the many benefits of TEIN2, and the applications that it supports. Mr Ulf Dahlsten, Director for Emerging Technologies and Infrastructure Applications, DG Information Society and Media, European Commission, focused on the potential of TEIN2 in post disaster crisis-support. Mr Vincent Piket, Head of Unit Centralised Operations for Asia, EuropeAid Co-operation Office, European Commission, stated TEIN2’s aims of expansion in the future. He announced that the project is preparing to welcome new ASEM members, and has received interest from countries beyond ASEM, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. India and Pakistan were also named in the declaration as future ASEM members, who will be cooperation partners by the next ASEM Summit, in Beijing in 2008.
Dr Bohuyn Seo, Vice President / Planning & Coordination, Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), outlined the development of TEIN2 from its bilateral beginning in 2000 at ASEM3, as an initiative between France and Korea.
Mr Chee Kheong Foong, representing the Malaysian Partner MYREN gave an account on life before and after the implementation of TEIN2. The project has helped stimulate the development of national networks, in partners such as MYREN, who now have 14 universities connected to its national infrastructure, and uses TEIN2 for its international connectivity in the region.
Dai Davies, DANTE’s General Manager, spoke on the technical challenges of TEIN2, and how its success has helped balance the global view of research networking. TEIN2 now provides direct links from Asia to Europe, and its trans-Siberia route is a networking first.
You can read the Official ASEM6 Chairman’s Statement, view the presentations and see the photos, via the links alongside.
