The EGI Blueprint, which details the implementation of the EGI Organization’s activities and the first phases of the development of a sustainable grid infrastructure in Europe, has been endorsed by the EGI Policy Board, which consists of representatives of national grid initiatives from 39 countries.
The European Grid Initiative (EGI) aims to establish a sustainable grid infrastructure in Europe, and to move from a structure based on short-term funded projects to a long-term service, for the benefit of the research community. EGI – a partnership between national grid initiatives (NGIs) and a coordinating body, the EGI Organization (EGI.org) – will begin its full operations in 2010. The EGI Blueprint document is a proposal designed to determine how to establish this long-term sustainable grid infrastructure. It presents a vision of the transition towards the new EGI model and includes the relevant requirements for the implementation, operation, user interaction with, and management of the corresponding infrastructure, as well as the preliminary budget outline.
At the Prague meeting on 20 January, the EGI Policy Board acknowledged the significant progress that has been made in the production of the final EGI Blueprint version. This document took into account the extensive feedback provided by the EGI Policy Board and other experts, leading to its endorsement by a large majority. It will now serve as the basis for the construction of the EGI.org institution, and for the submission of the EGI – and other related – proposals to the European Commission.
The EGI Policy Board also authorized the EGI_DS project (the EGI Design Study in charge of defining and implementing the new organization’s activities) to create a task force open to experts nominated by the EGI Policy Board members, to determine the best options for EGI funding and for the preparation of the EGI proposal.
“The fact that the EGI Blueprint is now accepted by so many countries as a basis for the implementation of a European grid infrastructure is a tremendous step forward”, said Ludek Matyska, project director of EGI_DS. “Eight countries have presented bids to host the EGI Organization. This also shows the commitment of governments to take this next step for a common research infrastructure,” he added.
The EGI Policy Board allowed EGI_DS to prepare a proposal describing the process for the appointment of an EGI.org director, and to begin this process as soon as the location of the EGI.org headquarters had been decided. The location was announced at the EGI Policy Board meeting held in Catania, Italy, on 2 March. Amsterdam was selected as the host city ahead of seven other European cities that also expressed interest in hosting the EGI Organization. The choice of the location of the EGI.org headquarters is a further and decisive step towards the implementation of a sustainable European grid infrastructure.
Useful link
EGI: www.eu-egi.eu