The European Commission is marking the tenth anniversary of GÉANT, the EU-funded high-speed research network. GÉANT has made it possible for scientists both across Europe and globally to work together in real time on ground-breaking research. This communication network has enabled scientists from across Europe and the world to work together in real time in pioneering research projects, improving the chances of outcomes in research projects in many different research fields.

Ten years after its creation and despite the fast evolving technology, services and capacity, GÉANT remains the most advanced research network in the world. In addition to GÉANT efforts and potential, the Commission is now adding new resources as part of the Digital Agenda for Europe, supporting and developing information and communications technology (ICT) based infrastructures like GÉANT, so that vast amounts of digital information can be harnessed to benefit both our economies and society as a whol0e.

The Pan-European data network GÉANT is a 50,000 km long data highway which connects national research and education networks (NRENs) across Europe. Thanks to dedicated point-to-point high speed internet links between research centres, 40 million users in 40 countries can collaborate in real time on research projects. The GÉANT project seeks technological solutions for network control, management and service provisioning. It enables secure and seamless access to network resources for the users, whether they be institutions, projects or researchers.

GÉANT, an important resource for EU research

GÉANT has allowed to to share massive volumes of data needed to study for example the smallest known particles with the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland or to tackle global challenges like finding a cure for epilepsy or setting up early warning systems for typhoons.

Working with equivalent networks worldwide, GÉANT transfers vital climate observation data around the globe, supporting early weather warnings that can save lives. Through dedicated high speed links, GÉANT connects remote radio telescopes, providing researchers with real time distributed images of the solar system. By providing the network communications infrastructure, GÉANT enables collaboration between doctors and medical researchers that underpins drug discoveries and breakthroughs in medical treatment. GÉANT can bring researchers together, driving regional co-operation across the EU and strengthening European research as a whole.

GÉANT is also hooked up to 9 other regional research and education networks, reaching some 85 million users worldwide.