RNP > RNP News > 2007 News

RNP promotes meeting for the establishment of consortium in e-science

New research institutions will enhance Eela-2

Last Friday, March 16, RNP’s Innovation Directorship organized a meeting to disclose the progress of the Eela project (Shared e-Infrastructure between Europe and Latin America) and to discuss the articulation of a consortium of Brazilian institutions to prepare a proposal of a succeeding project, Eela 2, early in May. About 40 representatives of Fiocruz, Embrapa, LNLS, USP, Unisantos, Uerj, UFRJ, LNCC, Inpe, Incor, ON, CBPF, UFF, UFCG, Unicamp and Cefet-RJ participated in the meeting, which was held by videoconference among the cities of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, São José dos Campos, Natal and Campinas.

Although the establishment of the national consortium condition to participate in the Eela 2 is essential, it is not connected only to the project, but to a broader collaboration of researchers and institutions for the future development of e-science in the country.

Michael Stanton, from RNP, Bernard Marechal, from UFRJ, and Diego Carvalho, from UFRJ and Cefet-RJ, made presentations on the project and also a few concepts unknown to some of the likely possible participants of Eela2 until that time.

Michael talked bout important concepts, such as e-science, grids and e-infrastructure. Then, he emphasized the need to influence Brazilian public power so that it starts to invest, in a coordinated way, in e-science, just like other countries and regions, such as United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. The lecturer also explained that the Sixth Program Chart of the European Union (FP6) funds R&D projects, such as Eela and Ringrid. However, the establishment of a consortium is required for the Brazilian institutions to participants in FP7 projects.

Bernard Marechal’s presentation dealt with Eela’s evolution, with duration between January of 2006 through December of 2007 and with the participation of Cederj, RNP, UFF and UFRJ, in addition to partners from six other Latin American countries, three European countries, Clara and Cem. The performance line of the project was explained, involving the construction of a grid infrastructure, implementation of applications in the physics of high energies, biomedicine, climate and e-education, development of other applications and promotion and training activities. Marechal announced that the European Union has stimulated the submission of projects which imply in the daily life of the population, such as biology, climate and health.

Subsequently, Carvalho emphasized the great computational effort that the Brazilian participants have endeavored to run applications of Eela’s users. And talked about the groups that will be made up during phase 2 of the project: management, training, applications and support, international cooperation and sustainability policy, grids and their support, and grids and development of services for the applications.

The interaction between the participants of the meeting made clear the possibility of exchange, objective of Eela. While some have applications, others have the structure capable to run them. “This is very appropriate for the project. We have no demands. What we want is what each one can provide”, was Marechal’s reply to the questions.

At the end of the meeting, the participants were invited to sign a declaration of interest in supporting the development of e-science. The next stage is the manifestation of interest in developing activities within project Eela2.

[RNP, 03.20.2007]