First EGI Council in Amsterdam

During the first quarter of 2009, very important steps have been taken towards the establishment of the EGI. On 20 January 2009, the EGI Policy Board endorsed the EGI Blueprint, the document defining the common roadmap for the construction of the new European grid organisation taking over the responsibility for the grid infrastructure from current projects. On 2 March 2009, the city of Amsterdam was chosen to host the EGI organization (EGI.eu, formerly called EGI.org), the coordinating body for the EGI. 

The signing of the MoU by the NGIs, and the organization of the first EGI Council represent further important steps towards the establishment of the EGI. Ludek Matyska, the EGI_DS Director, emphasized this point at the Council meeting in Amsterdam: 

“By signing the MoU, the NGIs confirmed that they were ready to implement the EGI as defined in the EGI Blueprint, and to commit financially to the establishment of the EGI.eu. The first EGI Council showed the wide support for the EGI through several important decisions taken, including the appointment of the interim EGI.eu director and confirmation of leaders of the Editorial Board, who will be responsible for preparing the EGI projects. Thus, lead persons necessary to actually prepare and run the EGI are identified and their positions assured.”

The EGI Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is an important document covering the period up to the formation of the EGI.eu and the establishment of the EGI statutes. By signing this document, the NGIs have agreed on the role and responsibilities of individual parties, the membership fees and other issues necessary to finalize the setup of the EGI.

The Council represents the governing body of the EGI. It is made up of NGIs as well as other members such as European institutions represented in the EIROFORUM and non-voting observers from NGIs that, while eligible for membership, have not yet signed the MoU. During the first EGI Council, additional experts representing either the EGI_DS project or other current grid infrastructures were also present. From now on, the EGI Council will represent the main decision-making body of the EGI.

More information:

www.eu-egi.eu

press@eu-egi.eu

The EGI Design Study (EGI_DS) project was launched in September 2007 with the support of the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme. The project will continue until the end of November 2009. According to current plans, the EGI Organization will begin its functions in early 2010. The EGI_DS has nine principal partners: CESNET, CERN, CNRS, CSC, DFN, GRNET, LMU, INFN and STFC, and is already endorsed by 42 National Grid Initiatives.