Programs

Black Sea Interconnection

BSI (Black Sea Interconnection) project intends to bridge the digital divide existing between South Caucasus and Europe by establishing a regional research and education network in South Caucasus and connecting it to GÉANT2.

The project involves developing strategies for interconnecting the existing infrastructures in the region, realizing the connections and supplying operational support for the established network. The existence of interconnections between South Caucasus countries as well as connection to GÉANT2 with reasonable capacities will enable the introduction of new services to the region and will be an important step towards the integration of the scientific potential in the region with Europe.

The Republic of Armenia is participating in the Black Sea Interconnection (BSI) project as well. BSI is a 24 month project that was started on 01.03.2008. The regional network and the connection to GÉANT2 is planned to be operational in late 2008. National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) is the BSI project participant from Armenia.

The main objectives of BSI are as follows:

  1. Building a proper regional research and education network among South Caucasus and connecting it to GÉANT2,
  2. Integration of South Caucasus scientific potential to Europe,
  3. Fostering the collaboration between homogenous scientific communities.

The expected gain from many scientific research and educational projects such as "Development of e-Societies in South Caucasus" and SEE-GRID-SCI would go one step further with the implementation of BSI project. Dissemination activities will promote widespread use of the BSI infrastructure by all members and all disciplines of the regional research and education community; liaise with other pan-European efforts with similar or adjacent objectives.

The Silk Project

The project plan was approved in November 2001. It brings highly cost effective, global Internet connectivity to the Caucasus and Central Asia through state-of-the-art satellite technology, thus creating a virtual Silk information highway. Consequently, the project has been called the 'Virtual Silk Highway', in short: the 'SILK Project'.

It includes National Research and Education Network organizations in three Southern Caucasus and five Central Asian countries and aims at increasing significantly the exchange of information with, and between, academic and educational institutions in these regions. The Silk project is being managed by the Silk ExCo: a co-ordinating body that consists of representatives of the various parties that are involved in the implementation of the project. In due time the Silk ExCo will be replaced by the Silk Board that will be responsible for the longer term sustainability of the infrastructure that is being installed.

OCCASION

The OCCASION Project manages the Silk Project, provides additional features (e.g. network management, VoIP and videoconferencing tools), and services such as information, CSIRTs and operational support. Their deployment and maintenance help researchers in the Silk countries to collaborate with their colleagues in the European Union. Another aspect of the project is to identify significant User Groups, active in both the Silk countries and the European Union, who need to use the Silk network for their collaborations. It then fosters the requisite training and joint workshops (co-funded with other bodies) to enable useful collaborations. Finally, it will assist the Silk NRENs to move towards an environment in which their networks will be self-sustainable without continued large-scale financial contributions from the EC and NATO.

Implemented Programs

  1. Establishment of Joint Armenian-Azerbaijani-Georgian Association (Caucasus Research Educational Networking Association- CARENA)
  2. "Armenian Regional Research and Educational Network Establishment" financed by the NATO Science Programme's Networking Infrastructure Grant
  3. "Virtual Communications Website Creation" Grant from Eurasia Foundation
  4. Grant from Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation – Armenia (OSIAFA)
  5. Agreement between NFSAT and OSIAFA
  6. Memorandum of Agreement between the ARENA and the United Nations Development Programme
  7. Organizing Caucasus and Central Asian Internet Offerings to NRENs - OCCASION
Website by Helix