“The global world of research is undergoing a revolution underpinned by advanced communication infrastructures like the world-leading pan-European research network GÉANT, the advances in Grid infrastructures enabling new ways of scientific collaboration and resource sharing and the wider and open availability of repositories of scientific data. By providing increased productivity and the ability to collaborate on research independently of geographical location, these e-Infrastructures are the key drivers of emerging global virtual research communities, thus enabling scientific excellence. e-Infrastructures are an important growth area not only for Europe but for the entire world, enabling research and scientific communities to work together supporting individual collaborative initiatives in ways that were unthinkable just a few years ago.”

Mario Campolargo
Director, Emerging Technologies and Infrastructures
Directorate-General Information Society and Media (DG INFSO), European Commission
(European e-Infrastructures Success Stories Communication – 2008)