NEA3R

NEA³R: expansion, enhancement of R&E trans-Atlantic networking

An extended collaboration among network organizations will yield two new high-speed U.S.-Europe circuits to enhance infrastructure for researchers in the United States and their counterparts in Europe, Africa, and the Arctic. Scientific fields supported by this effort, which include astronomy, high-energy physics and weather satellite applications, will benefit through faster time to discovery and improved access to a broader set of resources and data. The broader outcome: economic gain and global competitiveness for the regions impacted.

International Networks at IU will jointly lead a five-year, $4.75 million initiative supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Networks for European, American, African, and Arctic Research (NEA³R). NEA³R will continue IU's strong collaboration with the Advanced North Atlantic consortium, which consists of Internet2, CANARIE, GÉANT, NORDUnet, SURF and ESnet, along with African partner, the UbuntuNet Alliance. Dr. Jennifer Schopf, Director of International Networks at IU, is Principal Investigator on the award. Co-Principal Investigators include Edward Moynihan, IU; Tom Fryer, GÉANT; René Buch, NORDUnet; and Matthews Mtumbuka, UbuntuNet Alliance.

Through extensive partnerships supporting the initiative, NEA³R will provide researchers and educators with access to a broad array of geographical, ethnic, and cultural resources. This increased access to educational materials and public engagement will, in turn, assist in the development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce. 

The NEA³R project will support a suite of high-speed connections, some funded by the NSF and others provided by partners among the U.S., Europe and Africa. The project will also support advanced network measurement and monitoring through NetSage and establish reliable paths to advance the use of network test beds, such as IN@IU's partner FABRIC.

This award is part of the U.S. National Science Foundation's International Research Network Connections Core Improvement program. To read more about the award, including more quotes from international partners, click here.

Read the press release