What is EYR Global?
EYR Global is a program organized by 13 global National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), with the goal of identifying research programs that could significantly benefit from enhanced global network connectivity. As NRENs we aim to foster international collaborations to accelerate the research and discovery process. To further promote the benefits of international-scale networking to researchers, through this international program we are challenging researchers to stretch the boundaries of their science and collaborate with other countries to perform experiments enabled by the NREN’s world-class network infrastructure.
How is the EYR Global Program structured?
The EYR-Global program awards select projects with expert engineering support, consultation, and collaboration to guide and enhance researchers’ workflows.
- The first round consists of researchers submitting proposals describing their work and what bottlenecks or problems they have within their research workflow. Then, the organizing NRENs select a shortlist of proposals to go through to the second round.
- The consultation round consists of a consultation team from the organizing NRENs discussing the technical, organizational and financial feasibility of the proposal with qualified teams from the first round. The outcomes of this discussion should be incorporated into the final proposal.
- The final proposal round consists of an elaboration of the proposal resulting in a final proposal which is reviewed by scientists as well as engineers for both science impact and technical feasibility.
- Project approval: If the second-round project is approved, the final version is accepted into the EYR-Global program.
What does an awarded project receive?
The selected proposals will receive networking resources that they need for their project for one year. The EYR partner NRENs, along with any affiliate partners, will provide and develop high-quality network services for all higher education and research institutions in their respective countries.
The awarded teams may receive the following services:
- High-performance network infrastructures operated by the participating NRENs and their partners;
- Support and consultation with expert network engineers on devising the best end-to-end network connectivity plan to support the proposed research;
- Commitment from each participating NREN to an agreed level of network resource provisioning and ongoing support during the program’s allotted time;
- The required network connection will be delivered to the NREN termination point at the institution (if present). The institution is responsible for extending the connection within the institution and for the required infrastructure.
What kind of projects can be submitted?
–Scientific disciplines: The program is open to any academic discipline.
–Geographic Scope: The projects must be international in scope (that is, involving at least 2 different countries). At least one of these countries must have an NREN that is part of the EYR-Global Organizing Committee (the full list can be found below).
What is the timeline for this year’s edition?
| April 2015 | First round Call for Research Projects opens. |
June 7, 2015 |
First-round Call for Research Proposals closes. |
| May 31—June 15, 2015 | Engineering committee reviews proposals and selects second round proposals. |
| June 16, 2015 | Proposals that made it to the second round are informed |
| Late June 2015—August 2015 | Engineers from respective countries work with proposal teams towards a final research proposal. |
| September 1, 2015 | Final proposals are due. |
| December 2015-December 2016 | Awarded projects are implemented. |
Who can be on the project team?
–Researchers: The program is open to researchers at any level of expertise.
–Team composition: Each team must consist of a minimum of two researchers affiliated with different institutions in different participating countries, and respective network coordinators. The teams may be as large as necessary to accommodate project needs.
Which organizations are participating?
Enlighten Your Research Global 2015 (EYR-Global) is organized by AARNet, ACOnet, DFN, ESnet, GÉANT Association, Internet2, Janet/Jisc, PIONIER (PSNC), REANNZ, RedIRIS, RNP, SURFnet and SURFsara.
Where can I find additional information about the program?
We encourage you to reference all the materials on the website www.enlightenyourresearch.net, where you will be able to find information about the proposal process, the program Terms and Conditions, templates of proposal documents as well as documentation on the EYR Global 2013 edition and the previously awarded proposals.
I am a network engineer. Should I be the main applicant on the proposal?
The main applicant must be a researcher who takes part in the program on behalf of his or her institution. Additionally, the main applicant must be affiliated with a research institution that is connected to the organizing NRENs (as listed above) or affiliated NRENs. Visit the webpage Partners for this information.
What are the main applicant’s responsibilities?
The main applicant is the team member considered as the administrative contact. As such, he/she will be responsible for communicating with the EYR-Global organizing committee, with other applicant institutions, and with all the members of the team, as defined in the draft and final proposals.
My proposal calls for participation from a service provider. Is this allowable?
Service providers and other industry and research partners are encouraged to participate as co-applicants on projects.
How many network coordinators are required?
For the draft proposal, it is sufficient to include one network coordinator per participating institute in the team, however, more than one may participate (and is appreciated).
What kind of resources may be required from the network coordinator?
The team member assigned to this task is responsible for ICT and/or communication with the ICT department within their own institute. Every participating institute should provide and name one network coordinator. If a network connection is required, the network coordinator must be able to approve its establishment within the institutes involved.
We have 3 projects that would benefit from advanced networking capabilities. Can we only submit one?
There is no limit on the number of proposals submitted – teams may submit multiple proposals.
How many proposals will I be required to submit throughout the program?
The program consists of two rounds and as such calls for the submission of two proposals. The first, draft proposal, is based on the template made available on the program website and must be submitted by May 30, 2015 June 7, 2015. If your proposal is approved, your team will work with an assigned network engineer to develop and submit a second, final proposal, by September 1, 2015.
Is there a specific format that my proposal should follow?
Yes, your proposals should adhere to the guidelines described in the Call for proposals and the Submission guidelines that can be found, along with other document templates, on the website under the heading Submit. All proposals must be submitted in English.
Please note that applicants retain the intellectual property rights to their proposal.
Further guidelines and criteria for elaborating the proposals in the second round will be communicated to the main applicant upon approval of the first round proposal.
Can more than one team from my institution participate?
Yes, several teams from the same institution can participate, provided each team submits a separate proposal.
What will be required from my institution?
Your institution must approve and support all proposals that you submit. Additionally, as part of the final proposal, the institutions of the participating researchers must ensure the availability of the required local infrastructure and facilities and moreover ensure their cooperation in integrating the awarded services.
Are there any additional obligations after receiving the award?
The EYR-Global organizing committee reserves the right to use the awarded proposals for publicity and promotion via different media channels. The awarded teams will cooperate with the organizing NRENs on publicity and communications and will act as ambassadors for e-Infrastructure services as demonstrated in their winning proposal, for example by giving presentations at conferences or taking part in interviews.
Can you tell me more about the selection process?
The EYR-Global organizing committee will appoint a selection committee and will determine and undertake a diligent and transparent proposal selection. The selection committee acts in good faith in granting the awards, and reserves the right not to grant awards.
Decisions made by the EYR-Global organizing committee regarding the interpretation of the Terms and Conditions and the awarding decisions are binding and final.
Disclaimer
- The participating teams are responsible for the content and nature of their submission to the EYR-Global program.
- The participating teams are responsible for ensuring that no legal obligations, no rules of public order or decency and no rights of third parties are violated, according to the laws of the countries involved. They must also ensure that their submission results in no unlawful act and/or in no damage to others. Teams indemnify the organizing NRENs from any and all costs and damages that could result from infringing on these and other obligations.
- No rights can be derived from suggestions and instructional materials provided by the organizing NRENs regarding the EYR-Global program.
- Under certain unforeseen circumstances, the organizing NRENs reserve the right to change the Terms and Conditions of the program at any time. The latest version of this document can be found on the website.