EUMEDCONNECT3 provides a high-capacity dedicated Internet network for the research and education (R&E) communities across the southern and eastern Mediterranean region. By accessing the network through their respective national research and education networks (NRENs), that are partners in the program, scientists and academics are able to collaborate among each other and engage in innovative, data-intensive international projects.
With its direct links to GÉANT, the pan-European R&E network, EUMEDCONNECT3 provides access to over 40 million users at over 8000 research and education establishments across Europe. Via GÉANT’s connections to networks in other world regions, EUMEDCONNECT3 is a gateway for Mediterranean researchers to be truly global players.
Running from 2011-2014, EUMEDCONNECT3 is co-funded with EUR 3.3m by the European Union and is the third phase. Through its earlier phases, the EUMEDCONNECT program has connected Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia since 2004, promoting regional development and addressing local challenges, such as telecom monopolies and poor infrastructure. In the current phases, connections are being re-established, initially with Algeria, Egypt and Palestine, with additional countries eligible for EC funding support.
EUMEDCONNECT3 forms a platform for the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) which has been launched to create an R&E network for the wider Arab region. As Mediterranean neighbors, the NRENs of Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy and Spain are particularly interested in the collaboration opportunities offered by the program and are active partners. EUMEDCONNECT3 is run by international research networking organization DANTE, in collaboration with ASREN, the European and local NREN partners.
