SEEREN Inauguration Event

Prospects of collaboration for SE Europe

January 9th, 2004

Thessaloniki, Greece

organized by

The Greek Ministry of Development

in collaboration with

The SEEREN consortium

local organization

GRNET, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)

LOCATION

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, http://www.auth.gr

Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece with a

population of 1,000,000 inhabitants, is one of the oldest

cities in Europe. It stretches over twelve kilometers in a

bowl formed by low hills facing a bay that opens into the

Gulf Thermaikos, on a site of old prehistoric settlements

going back to 2300 B.C. The city was founded by

Cassander, King of Macedonia, and was named after his

wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander The Great. At the

crossroads between east and west, this multicultural

metropolis has a dramatic history of conquests and

counter-invasions. In Roman times it was visited by Saint

Paul, who preached the new religion, and who later

addressed his two well-known epistles (the oldest written

documents of Christian literature) to the Christians of

Thessaloniki. In Byzantine times, Thessaloniki became a

cultural and artistic centre second only to Constantinople in

the whole empire. The missionary brothers Cyril and

Methodius also have a special place in the history of the

period; they invented and used the Cyrillic Alphabet to

bring literacy and Christianity to the Slavs. Thessaloniki is

a prosperous waterfront city, its sophisticated business

centre balanced by a lively student culture. The town has

today two quite distinct sectors: The "old town",

continuously undergoing reconstruction, and the modern

sector, whose many modern buildings are examples of

advanced architecture. The Aristotle University, founded in

1925, is Greece's largest university, with 60,000 students.

In addition to the University, there are numerous

institutions that contribute to the academic and cultural life

of the city. Among them are the Macedonian University,

The Archeological and Byzantine museums, the Folklore

museum, the State Conservatory, Theatres and Orchestras,

the Society of Macedonian Studies, the Institute for Balkan

Studies, and other cultural and artistic organisations.

Climate: (°C) Jan: min 2, max 15; Jul: min 18, max 32.

EVENT CHAIRS

Spyros Konidaris EC

Vasilis Maglaris GRNET

LOCAL HOST

Ioannis Antonopoulos AUTH

Ioannis Tsoukalas AUTH

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Bernhard Fabianek EC

Jorge-A, Sanchez-P. GRNET

Dimitra Kotsokali GRNET

Lajos Balint HUNGARNET/NIIFI

Eduard Andrei RoEduNet

Zoran Jovanovic AMREJ

Orlin Kouzov ICTDA

Rossitza Petrova ISTF

Borislav Popovski MARNET

Gudar Beqiraj INIMA

Azemina Vukovic BIHARNET

SECRETARIAT

Krystallia Drystella GRNET

Christina Pikrammenou GRNET

Hara Biba GRNET

Athina Sakka GRNET

For the latest workshop information and news

http://www.seeren.org

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the event are

the inauguration of the South-Eastern European Networking Infrastructure

(SEEREN)

the promotion of the Action Plan for collaboration in the field of research and

technology between the European Union and the South Eastern European coun-

tries (candidates or not)

the promotion of new collaborations

organisation of parallel meetings: Task Force for electronic networking, actions

for SEE-GRID, etc.

ORGANIZER

Greek Ministry of Development, in collaboration with the South-Eastern European

Research and Education Networking (SEEREN) initiative.

Local organization: Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET) and the Ar-

istotle University of Thessaloniki.

WORKSHOP SPONSORS

European Commission - DG Information Society.

WORKSHOP VENUE

Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ceremony Hall.

REGISTRATION

On-site registration on Friday, 9 January, 2004 at 08:30-10:00.

SOCIAL EVENT

TBD

LUNCH

Lunch will be served at 12:30-13:30 in the venue area.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

08:30

Registration and Coffee

Opening Session – Welcoming of participants and greetings

09:00

I. Antonopoulos, Rector AUTH P. Psomiadis, Prefect of Thessaloniki V. Papageorgopoulos, Mayor of Thessalo-niki

TBD, Representative from the Ministry of Development

D. Deniozos, General Secretary for Re-search and Technology, Ministry of De-velopment, Greece

Y. Kalogirou, Secretary for the Informa-tion Society, Ministry of Economy and Fi-nance, Greece

S. Konidaris, Advisor to the Director Gen-eral, European Commission, - DG INFSO

V. Maglaris, Chairman of the Board, GRNET

Session 1: Inauguration – South-Eastern European Research and Education Networking

10:00

B. Fabianek, Scientific Officer, European Commission - DG INFSO

J.-A. Sanchez-P., SEEREN Project Man-ager, GRNET

David West, DANTE

Valentino Cavalli, TERENA

Oliver Popov, CEENet

11:00

Coffee break

Directors of the SEEREN NRENs: Z. Jovanovic, O. Kouzov, G. Beqiraj, B. Popovski, A. Vukovic

W. Kaffenberger, Programme Director, NATO Science Programme

Α. Αggeloglou, OTEGlobe, CEO

J. Butler, Cisco Europe

George Bonas, Chairman Task Force on the Improvement of electronic networks

12:30

60 min Lunch break + Press conference

Session 2: Prospects of collaboration for SE Europe

13:30

Α. Tsochatzopoulos, Minister, Ministry of Development

E. Liikanen, Commissioner, EC

A. Diamantopoulou, Commissioner, EC

D. Domazet, Minister of Science, Tech-nology and Development of Serbia

S. Backovic, Minister of education, Gov-ernment of Montenegro

N. Nedelchev, Vice Minister of Transport and Communications (responsible for Communications), Ministry of Transport and Communications, Republic of Bul-garia

K. Velev, Vice-Minister (responsible for Scientific Affairs), Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Bulgaria

T. Ionescu, Ministry of Education, Re-search and Youth, Romania

A, Doko, Minister Foreign Trade and Economy, Bosnia & Herzegovina

L. Memush, Minister of Education and Science, Tirane, Albania

A. Polozani, Minister for Education and Science, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Α. Loverdos, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, HiPERB

15:00

30 min Coffee Break

Conclusions

15:30

Open discussion and wrap-up

17:00

min Workshop end

PARTICIPATION FORM

SEEREN Inauguration Event

Prospects of collaboration for SE Europe

January 9th, 2004

Thessaloniki, Greece

Please, fill this form in capital letters (one separate form for each participant)

and send it by fax or e-mail to :

Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET)

Attn: Ms. H. Biba, Fax:+30 210 7474490

email: biba@grnet.gr

until 20 - 12- 2003 at the latest

Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………

(Mr/Mrs) (LAST) (first)

Organization: ………………………………………………………………………………………

Title/Position: ………………………………………………………………………………………

Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………

Telephone: ………………………………………………………………………………………

Fax: ………………………………………………………………………………………

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Signature : …………………………………………

Date: …………………………………

BACKGROUND

A major objective of the Framework Programme of the European Commission (EC)

is the cooperative approach to Research and Technological Development across

Europe. The European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) have a

long tradition of providing the most advanced platforms for cooperative, transna-

tional research, coupled with their dual function in supporting the academic and edu-

cational communities. This was emphasized in the Feira European Council in which

the eEurope initiative was formalized.

One of the eEurope objectives stressed the urgent need for faster and reliable Inter-

net for researchers and students; as a consequence, the FP5 workprogramme sup-

ported the establishment of GÉANT, the latest generation of pan-European research

network infrastructure interconnecting at gigabit rates more than 3,000 research and

education institutions in 32 countries through 28 national and regional research and

education networks.

Unlike previous EC Research Networks projects the GÉANT project strongly en-

couraged global connectivity; this meant support for connections and coordinated

activities with peer advanced next generation network initiatives in the USA (Inter-

net2) and Canada (Canarie), but also for extending its coverage to the newly associ-

ated and 3rd countries in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe, 3rd Mediterra-

nean countries, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Far East, etc.

The universally acknowledged success of GÉANT stressed the need for expanding

its coverage to its immediate neighbours in South Eastern Europe, thus helping to

ease the “ digital divide” and contribute to the stability, peace and development of

a region that up to recently was considered as one of the most volatile and unstable

areas of the world. The South Eastern European Research and Education Network-

ing initiative, SEEREN, aims at expanding the European research network in the re-

gion by providing GÉANT connectivity to non-GÉANT countries and will enable joint

research and educational activities, as a first step towards integrated e-Science ap-

plications. Hence the concept of equity will be promoted in SE Europe, expressing

the willingness of EU to enable equal research opportunities as well as equal access

to information sources for all habitants of the continent.

SEEREN will do its share to release the scientific and productive talents of the re-

gion, thus helping European research and industrial concerns to attract highly skilled

personnel and at the same time contribute to the urgently needed improvement of

ICT infrastructures.

SEEREN is expected to be an essential vehicle for the creation and exploitation of a

range of new services and best current practices to support research and education

as well as offering facilities for collaboration and experimentation carried out as part

of the IST and other international projects.

SEEREN will bring together the research and development communities of SE

Europe enabling them to cooperate towards achieving their common scientific en-

deavors. This is clearly a positive development, taking into consideration the recent

history of the region, where social unrest and political conflicts had affected the in-

tra country cooperation and put the local academic and research communities into

practical isolation.

SEEREN will create the conditions for growth throughout SE Europe, by enabling the

exchange of ideas, launching of joint experiments and projects, disseminating RTD

results, and activating market forces, all substantial elements in the process of re-

gional development. The project will have a positive effect in the area of “ brain-

drain” prevention making the right information and knowledge resources accessible

to the scholars both locally and globally. We are acutely alert by the daily mental

hemorrhaging in SE European countries with so many young and educated people

leaving. While this is part of a more general phenomenon that also happens in devel-

oped countries, it is of great concern in the developing ones, particularly in aca-

demic environments.

Countries in SE Europe have a wealthy cultural heritage that dates from several

hundred years ago. Indeed, up to now the existing common as well as diverse cul-

tural elements of the fairly small and closed local societies, could hardly be consid-

ered as being integral parts of the cultural fabric of the region. The SEEREN infra-

structure will promote common cultural ties through applications that will enable

publishing, access and sharing of cultural assets among users and possibly educate

the various social and even ethnic communities.

In addition, the SEEREN networking environment could be potentially used as a

working paradigm towards improving the everyday life of the citizens of the region.

This could be accomplished by designing and running advanced telematic applica-

tions such as tele-medicine, tele-teaching etc.

Furthermore SEEREN will enact a communication channel between the SE Europe

scientific community and the European industry (liaisons to major ICT vendors), thus

resulting to an increase of the demand for specialized services provided by the

highly skilled academics and researchers of the region.

Last but not least, it is believed that the SEEREN project will also positively affect

the Democracy and Equity cause in the region.

SEEREN Project Objectives

Establish the South-East European infrastructure interconnecting the National Re-

search and Education Networks (NRENs) of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria,

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia-Montenegro, Greece,

Hungary and Romania (called regional NRENs). The NRENs will be linked via 2-34

Mbps international connectivity.

Interconnect the regional NRENs to the major GÉANT Points of Presence (PoPs)

in this area and thus to the Pan-European research network. The major GÉANT

PoPs in the region are located in Athens, Budapest, Bucharest, Ljubljana, Zagreb

and Vienna.

Guarantee the stable operation of the networking infrastructure and inter-

operability with GÉANT;

Serve as a guide for future upgrades, so that all regional NRENs will be able to

participate in GÉANT and be part of the European "e-Science" distributed plat-

form.

Ease the "digital divide" that still separates most of the SEE countries from the

rest of the continent. Build awareness of IST in SE Europe non-EU countries and

serve as a paradigm for bridging the digital divide in other areas. Provide a plat-

form for cooperation of scientific and educational communities of EU Member

States with Newly Associated States (NAS) and 3rd Countries.

Exploit and disseminate the results. Investigate additional sources of funding

from the EC, from EU States national funds and international organizations that

are actively involved in the SEE region, such as UNESCO and NATO, CEENet,

UNDP, World Bank, USAID.

Work accomplished

Subcontracts prepared and signed with NRENs of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,

Bulgaria, FYROM and Serbia-Montenegro.

NRENs interconnectivity require-ments collected based on questionnaires sent

to all SEEREN NRENs.

Early consultations with providers, active in SE Europe to acquire rough esti-

mates for the networking availability and cost.

Analysis of the market conditions, supplier capabilities and technical, operational,

commercial requirements.

Analysis of the SEEREN NRENs equipment and upgrade needs and agreement on

the SEEREN NOC organization and sustainability model.

Relations established with organizations that are actively involved in the SEE re-

gion, such as UNESCO and NATO, in order to work out common visions towards

reducing the "digital divide" in the region, i.e. the information and technological

gaps within the region, as well as between the region and European Member

States.

Around 1,400,000€ pulled together from sponsors (NATO, UNDP, Industrial Ad-

visory Board) in various complementary subprojects.

SEEREN training workshop organized, aimed at providing the SEEREN NRENs

with certain technical know-how, and technical vision.

Tender Notice published at the OJ/EC following EU legislature. Preparation of

tender dossier. Evaluation of offers technically and financially.

Selection of suppliers. Based on feedback all possible implementation approaches

and topology options of GÉANT– SEEREN interconnection will be assessed. Fi-

nal negotiations with the selected providers. From the negotiations recommenda-

tions, the final interconnectivity topology will be designed.

Definition of acceptance tests for connection lines and equipment, ensuring their

required quality-performance, configuring the network elements and ensuring

the stable operation of the interconnections by day-to-day supervision.

Deployment of networking services and tools (e.g., Helpdesk, monitoring tools,

statistics, etc).

Future Work

Implementation of the SEEREN Virtual NOC.

Look for other possible sources of funding including the Development Assistance

Committee (DAC) of the OECD, the Stability Pact and other European pro-

grammes such as FP6, INTERREG, PHARE and CARDS. Extra funding will be

used so as to ensure network's viability beyond the project's lifetime.

Promote the use of SEEREN by informing the appropriate user groups through

special events such as organizing workshops, distributing publicity material, de-

livering presentations at scientific conferences, setting demonstrations in aca-

demic events, all aiming at presenting the new opportunities provided by

SEEREN. Individual NRENs will carry out complementary promotional activities

in their national user communities as well as participate in activities at the Euro-

pean level.

ABSTRACTS

TBA

ACCOMODATION

To ease booking of hotels we have pre-booked a certain number of rooms in 7 se-

lected hotels at favourable prices. Should you choose to book a room at the follow-

ing prices then you have to contact directly the hotel of you preference and use the

words “ GRNET” and/or “ SEEREN” as reference, so as to be eligible for the

special prices.

MAKEDONIA PALACE HOTEL *****, Address: 2, Meg. Alexandrou Ave. 546 40

Thessaloniki, Tel: +30 2310 897197, Fax: +30 2310 897210, Email:

mpalace@grecotel.gr, Web site: www.grecotel.gr, Daily cost for single room on bed

and breakfast basis Euro 147, Daily cost for double room on bed and breakfast basis

Euro 175.

ELECTRA PALACE HOTEL *****, Address: 9, Aristotelous square, 546 24 Thessa-

loniki, Tel: +30 2310 294000, Fax: +30 2310 294001, Email:

salesepthe@electrahotels.gr, Web site: www.electrahotels.gr, Daily cost for single

room on bed and breakfast basis Euro110, Daily cost for double room on bed and

breakfast basis Euro135.

CAPSIS HOTEL ****, Address: 18, Monastiriou str, 546 29 Thessaloniki, Tel: +30

2310 521321, Fax: +30 2310 510555, Email: capsis@spark.net.gr, Web site:

www.capsishotel.gr, Daily cost for single room on bed and breakfast basis Euro 81,

Daily cost for double room on bed and breakfast basis Euro 102.

CITY HOTEL ****, Address: 11 Komninon str, 546 24 Thessaloniki, Tel: +30 2310

269421, Fax: +30 2310 274358, Email: city@cityhotel.gr, Web site:

www.cityhotel.gr, Daily cost for single room on bed and breakfast basis Euro 89,

Daily cost for double room on bed and breakfast basis Euro 99.

ABC HOTEL ***, Address: 41, Aggelaki str, 546 21 Thessaloniki, Tel: +30 2310

265421, Fax: +30 2310 276542, Web site: www.hotelabc.gr, Daily cost for single

room on bed and breakfast basis Euro 63.

EGNATIA HOTEL ***, Address: 16, Antigonidon str, 546 30 Thessaloniki, Tel: +30

2310 530675, Fax: +30 2310 531761, Web site: www.egnatia-hotel.gr, Daily cost

for single room on bed and breakfast basis Euro 53, Daily cost for double room on

bed and breakfast basis for single use Euro 60, Daily cost for double room on bed

and breakfast basis Euro 65.

METROPOLITAN HOTEL ***, Address: 65, Vas. Olgas Ave. 546 42 Thessaloniki,

Tel: +30 2310 824221, Fax: +30 2310 849762, Email:

metropolitan@metropolitan.gr, Web site: www.metropolitan.gr, Daily cost for single

room on bed and breakfast basis Euro 75, Daily cost for double room on bed and

breakfast basis for single use Euro 75, Daily cost for double room on bed and

breakfast basis Euro 95.

TRANSPORTATION

AIRPORT

Thessaloniki has an international airport. Airport Code: SKG. The airport is located

16 km. outside Thessaloniki and caters for both domestic and international flights.

Airport address: P.O Box 22605, 55103 Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Greece. Flight in-

formation: +30 31 473977, 473720 (24hours). Switchboard: telephone: +30 31

473312, 473212. Airport Transportation:

Bus to Thessaloniki centre: Public Service no 78, every 30 min, journey time 30

min.

Taxi to Thessaloniki centre: Journey time 20 min, fare ca. EUR 8.

Car hire: AVIS tel.: 268300, City International tel.: 471040, EuroDollar tel.:

456631, Hertz tel.: 476269, Budged tel.: 471491, Thrifty tel.: 241241.

TRAIN

Information on national and international train services is updated daily. www.ose.gr.

Tel: +30 2310 517 517.

SOCIAL EVENTS

TBD