International Activities

Strategy and policy

NWO is actively working to improve innovation and quality in scientific research and ensures that the knowledge generated in this process is being disseminated and utilised. Science, after all, by definition has no borders. NWO wants to excell in both cooperation and competition; for that a clever combination of forces and means is indispensable. The internationalisation policy mainly aims to increase cooperation in Europe.
The development of the European Research Area (ERA) is a key element in this. In its turn ERA contributes to the development of the knowledge economy. Apart from this NWO cooperates and maintains contacts with Russia, Asia, Africa and America.

Foundation policy

Apart from the network maintained by researchers themselves, NCF actively seeks to join international intiatives to bring together the best research groups and researchers in the field of advanced computing facilities.

International collaborations and projects

  • e-IRGSP
    In October 2007 was the two-year EU-funded project e-IRGSP to support European policy-making body of the e-IRG (e-Infrastructure Reflection Group) off. The e-IRG consists of representatives of governments of all EU Member States and the EU has an important role in establishing and maintaining policies and Grids infrastructures for e-Science. The secretariat, located at NCF, was responsible for all support to the e-IRG in the form of study analysis, reports, publications and coordination with other partners and stakeholders. The implementation of the e-IRGSP was reviewed in December by the EU qualifications excellent.
  • e-IRGSP2
    In September 2007, the EU in Brussels the e-IRGSP2 project, the extension of e-IRGSP formally submitted. The e-IRGSP2 end of December for the next 3 years (2008-2010) financed by the EU with the objective of e-IRG to continue. The main tasks within this project are to maintain and develop the e-IRG Knowledge Base, as well as advising on issues of importance for proper and efficient functioning of the e-IRG and providing the core editorial for the e - IRG publications.
  • e-IRGSP3
    In December 2010, the next e-IRGSP3 support project has started and will continue and expand its activities for the e-IRG for next three years  (2010- eind 2013), financed by the European Commission. The project coordinator is seated at NWO in the Hague.
  • PRACE
    PRACE (PaRtnerschip for Advanced Computing in Europe) consist of an group initiative and a project.

    The PRACE initiative started with 5 principal partners (Germany, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands), and 9 traditional partners. PRACE is funded by member governments through their representative organizations and EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° RI-261557. The first PRACE computer systems and their operations are funded by the governments of the representative organizations hosting the systems
    • The first PRACE project was submitted to the EC in December 2007. PRACE is funded by member governments through their representative organizations and EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° RI-261557. The first PRACE computer systems and their operations are funded by the governments of the representative organizations hosting the systems. The mission of the PRACE RI is to enable high impact European scientific discovery and engineering research and development across all disciplines to enhance European competitiveness for the benefit of society. The PRACE RI seeks to realize this mission through world class computing and data management resources and services open to all European public research through a peer review process. Through the broad participation of European governments through representative organizations a diversity of resources can be provided by the PRACE RI including expertise throughout Europe in effective use of the resources. To aid users and potential users as well as preparing the next generation scientists and engineers PRACE has an extensive pan-European education and training effort. PRACE also encourages collaboration with industry and industrial use and conducts annual Industrial Seminars at locations throughout Europe. PRACE also seeks to strengthen the European HPC industry through various initiatives and has a strong interest in improving energy efficiency of computing systems and reducing their environmental impact.
    24 countries are already involved: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK. From the Netherlands NCF is the main representative and SARA and the RUG-CIT as third parties of which SARA is by far the largest.
  • OSIRIS (towards an Open and Sustainable ICT Research Infrastructure Strategy)>
    The European Commission has funded this two-year project that started on January 1st 2010. The project OSIRIS will identify common European policies, activities and priorities related to ICT Research Infrastructures (ICT RIs) and aims to build the platform, mechanism and models required to secure the efficient involvement of Member States, Associated Countries and regions to develop cross border public-public partnerships and to establish a coordinated approach to future large scale investments in transnational European ICT RIs. A Stakeholder Group has been established which advises the project and that will evolve into a permanent working group after the project has ended.