EUMEDCONNECT3 - An Overview
EUMEDCONNECT3 - In A Nutshell
- Provides high-capacity Internet connectivity for academic and scientific collaborations
- Links EUMEDCONNECT3 partner countries and to the research and education community across Europe and worldwide via GÉANT
- Currently connects Algeria, Morocco and Palestine
- Other Arab countries are welcome to participate
- Dedicated Network Operating Centre provides high quality e-Infrastructure
- Human capacity building and support for application projects provided
- European Commission funding support for beneficiary partner countries (e.g. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Tunisia)
- Forms key e-Infrastructure for ASREN , which is a key project partner for longer term sustainability
Key E-Infrastructure for Collaborative Research
Since 2004 the EUMEDCONNECT programme has provided the only e-Infrastructure in the Mediterranean region dedicated for research and educational use. The first EUMEDCONNECT formed part of the European Commission’s EUMEDIS Programme, which aimed to develop an inclusive Information Society in the region. Its success led to a further phase of EC funding to the project, with EUMEDCONNECT2 running from 2008 to 2011. This lead to the formation and establishment of the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) which is a principal partner of the current EUMEDCONNECT3 project.
The European Commission is contributing over 3M Euro towards the costs of EUMEDCONNECT3 from its regional European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI South) budget, with the remaining funds being provided by the Mediterranean partners. The project is projected to run to 2014. In the medium term it is planned ASREN will take on responsibility for research and education e-Infrastructure deployment and promoting collaborative research within the region.
