TNC25 will be hosted by Jisc, the British Research and Education Network, and will take place in Brighton, UK, from June 9-13, 2025.
About TNC
The largest and most prestigious research and education networking conference, TNC attracts a truly diverse audience of over 800 participants from more than 70 countries, representing national and regional research and education networks, schools and universities, technology providers, and many of the world’s most exciting scientific projects. By bringing together decision-makers, networking and security specialists, identity and access management experts, researchers, academics and students, TNC offers a unique collaborative experience.
This DFN side meeting addresses video conference enthusiasts who want to develop a common understanding about a successful service management around eduMEET. We will discuss topics related to service design, service transition and service operation and the connecting questions regarding IT and network security, usability and software engineering. Along with question of how to set up and maintain continuously software developement we want to tackle the question of how to build a reliable and transparent user support on all three service management levels. The side meeting will also discuss possibilities of decentralized video networks in general and how eduMEET as a free open source software could be engaged in distributed server environments.
The side meeting is based on the findings of DFNs intensive eduMEET evaluation in 2024 and will follow the guiding question what eduMEET needs more: a strategy or a governance?
The GNA-G Network Automation Working group is established to collaborate on the transformation of NREN networks through network automation and orchestration. Join this meeting to learn, discuss, and share information about network automation, network orchestration and related topics.
Many organisations in Research and Education are faced with compliance challenges against legislation and standards. NIS2, ISO27001, ISO 9001, Article 13a, to name a few. With presentations and discussions we will explore the actual challenges and practical solutions around governance, internal audit, external audit and standards.
The SIG-marcomms side meeting is an opportunity for marcomms specialists from the global R&E community to meet, learn from one another and explore possible future collaborations. Join us to discuss trending topics and challenges in marketing and communications in support of the core R&E business around the world.
The agenda for this meeting can be found here.
UniformID, decentralised identity framework based on W3C DID standard, addresses key challenges in directory cataloguing, course application and interoperability ensuring secure, scalable management for courses, applications, institutions, and learners. Find out how UniformID: - Fosters collaboration enabling seamless, cross-platform interoperability. - Supports AI-driven innovation. - Solves real-world identity management challenges.
Join us to discover which strategic foresight tools and techniques are out there, and how you and your organisation can benefit from it. Based on experience we know that applying foresight is much easier once you have gained experience. Learn about tools you can take back to your organisation
<span style="color:red">NOTE: Unfortunately, no further registrations can be accepted. We have reached the attendee limit for this meeting.</span>
The annual Mobility Day is a chance for anyone with an interest in eduroam and other roaming initiatives to come together and discuss developments. Mobility Day covers topics including eduroam, govroam, mobile networks, 4G, 5G, WiFi 6(e), Internet of Things, Low Power WAN, Passpoint/Hotspot 2.0 and other mobility related topics.
An agenda for the meeting is available.
Mobility Day is supported by the Global eduroam Governance Committee.
SIG-AI for NRENs - This side meeting will explore the potential applications of AI for NRENs. We will discuss network optimisation, security enhancements and personalised tools for network professionals, researchers and educators.
The agenda for this meeting can be found here,
The meeting will dive into strategic insights, cutting-edge trends, and practical wisdom in educational delivery, both nationally and on the global stage. Topics from identity & access management, wallets, DC4EU, MyAcademicID and the role NRENs play, the importance of open standards for educational resources and tools will be discussed.
The agenda for this meeting can be found here.
Join the second annual Workflow Orchestrator user group meeting, hosted by the WFO Partners SURF, ESnet, GEANT, and HEAnet! Receive adaptation updates from NRENs who are (working towards) using WFO in production, core software feature updates and plans, and open discussions between current and future users.
This event is the perfect opportunity for speakers and session chairs to meet, discuss presentations, catch up with community members and make new connections.
By invite only
Light snacks and drinks will be served.
The traditional TNC Morning Run will be held on Tuesday, starting at 7am in front of the entrance to Brighton Pier. The run will cover a distance of 5km and last approximately one hour. We will head along the seafront, with pauses included to catch breath, chat with fellow runners and learn a bit about our host city. This is a great way to meet people that you might not otherwise come across at TNC. If you haven’t joined us on the run before, and are tempted, do come along. It will be a great social event and is a great way to get the mind alert for the sessions and discussions to follow that day.
Register now via: https://events.geant.org/event/1884/
Since 2018, the SEE Directors Forum has supported (N)RENs in the SEE region with GÉANT’s coordination. It facilitates quarterly meetings to address challenges and bridge the digital divide.
This is an opportunity for the R&E community to come together to reflect on our first ever joint submission of a bid to a commercial tender. What worked? What were our pain points / challenging areas? What could we do differently next time and most importantly what learning points can we use for the future - on both the technical but also on the commercial/contracting/legal side of things?
We intend to bring together a panel for discussion with plenty of audience interactions. The overall aim is to share learnings on the process.
The world as we knew it is rapidly shifting. Now more than ever Europe has the responsibility, but also the opportunity, to play a key role in protecting European values. A strong European educational sector is conditional for Europe that has, with a robust economy, the power to influence this balancing act. NRENs and GÉANT are uniquely positioned to help build the connected education infrastructure Europe needs to establish a strong European educational sector.
CARNET, CSC, Jisc, Sikt and SURF initiated in early 2025 the “NRENs4Education” group to discuss concrete activities that NRENs can do together to support universities in the area of education. A BoF at TNC is the perfect opportunity to hear from the European Commission what are the plans for the European Education Plan and how NRENs can transform European education from a collection of digital islands into a connected and interoperable continent of opportunities and give millions of students the seamless educational experience to prepare them with the right skills for a role in a thriving European economy. During the BoF, the activities undertaken by the NRENs4Education group will be presented.
Title: Let’s Make Magic!
Have you ever longed to be able to present with a confident, well projected voice, and an energy that effortlessly communicates with and captures the attention of your audience? Well here is your chance!
In the early stages of her HR and Legal career (and before joining AARNet), Teresa spent a number of years singing opera professionally as an international soloist. Through this experience Teresa developed a ‘never fail’ toolkit of proven performance techniques, to enable management of nerves and anxiety; to vocally project into very large auditoriums without a microphone; and to confidently use her voice and her body to communicate with gravitas and engage her audience.
In this highly interactive session, Teresa will take you on a journey to discover what factors may be holding your presentation style back from full potential, and will equip you with physical exercises that you can easily and immediately incorporate into your public speaking toolkit - enabling you to achieve maximum engagement and success. The session will focus on effectively managing your nerves and adrenalin flow, vocal stability, projection, tone, gravitas, and ways to use your body to increase non-verbal effectiveness and messaging.
What motivates Identity Providers (IdPs) and Service Providers (SPs) to join CARSI (China CERNET Identity Federation)? And what challenges and opportunities arise for the federation as a result? CARSI provides federated identity management and global academic resource access services to Chinese universities, currently serving over 700 Identity Providers (IdPs) and 290 Service Providers (SPs).
In this session, the CARSI project team will explore User-Driven Evolution and showcase practical solutions to common challenges, including integration workflows, security, scalability.
Learn about the results of the Digital Credentials for EU (DC4EU) large scale pilot. I will demonstrate the EU digital identity wallet (EUDIW) that we have built and the use cases within higher education and research. I will first show how the wallet can be used and demo the functionality, then assist the participants to actually use the wallet themselves to give them a better understanding of how it can work and benefit them in their own future work.
Come and find out how to make the best of your first visit to TNC from experienced TNC attendees. Learn how the programme works, where to network and how to get the most of out of the social events.
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
This session will give an overview of how Google is empowering students, educators & researchers with Technology & AI to enhance meaningful learning & development.
With support from our partner SoftwareOne, we will explore use cases that improve student content quality, enable more time for teaching and stretch precious budgets further.
This is a community hub for all Procurement related professionals in the community with the aim to organise, coordinate, and discuss various topics for a very turbulent and eventful 2025 in Procurement.
Welcome to TNC25 from GÉANT CEO Lise Fuhr.
This talk uses the physical infrastructure of the Internet as an entry point for a discussion of how contemporary knowledge infrastructure shapes imagination and possibilities. Considering the geopolitics at play in every level of network architecture, it explores the implications of thousands of small technical decisions for what is thinkable in the contemporary knowledge environment. Drawing on time spent with the crew of the Leon Thevenin, Africa’s only dedicated oceanic fiber optic repair vessel, it humanizes the work of building, maintaining and expanding knowledge networks across divided political geographies. It poses critical questions of consideration regarding the knowledge that we have, the knowledge that we want, and who this knowledge is designed to serve.
Presentation of the Annual GÉANT Community award for outstanding contributions to collaborative work and the development of services and technologies within the GÉANT Community.
Presentation of the Annual Vietsch Award. The Medal of the Vietsch Foundation is awarded annually to honour people whose initiatives led to a lasting organisational set-up or a service that is of great value to the research and education community.
This interactive session will offer attendees an engaging opportunity to discover the GEM mentoring programme, hear firsthand experiences, and view the GEM platform in action. By connecting available mentors and mentees with new programme participants the session will support the growth of the GEM platform. The session will showcase how GEM supports professional and personal development through mentorship.
Recent changes in the Federal and R&E landscape have required organizations in the US to make adjustments to community-facing programming, particularly those programs that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a result, many institutions are crafting new opportunities for professional growth and development within our communities that comply with new restrictions but continue to align with our vision and the services, solutions, and engagement opportunities that we offer. This session will be an open discussion amongst all in attendance, collaboratively sharing how each of our organizations encourages professional growth by partnering with our communities in a manner that enables people of all identities and backgrounds to feel welcome and do their best work. Examples might include internships, mentoring programs, or scholarships for attendance at anchor events that include a cohort experience.
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
Join us at the Exchange Theatre for Microsoft’s General Manager, Kate Maxwell's keynote, 'Education in the AI Era,' to explore the transformative impact of AI on education, highlighting our partnership with GEANT, showcase investments being made in academic research, and Microsoft's commitment to empowering individuals and organizations worldwide
Overview of how the University of Nottingham have embraced Microsoft Azure as a central research tool to drive research output and impact. Walkthrough of the current engagement and service model implemented and the challenges faced along the way in offering researchers digital freedom whilst retaining appropriate governance and control.
A Network Digital Twin is a clone of a real network that replicates, as far as it is feasible, the functioning of devices and links (control plane, data plane, and management plane) so that you can play out scenarios that are impossible, cost-prohibitive, disruptive or too damn hard to perform in the real network.
One might ask, what caused yesterday's outage? What would this BGP policy change do to traffic patterns in my network? Or what would these traffic trends mean to my network in six or twelve months? It is more than a “test lab on steroids,” as one can (if the vision pans out) perform tasks in a Network Digital Twin that can’t be done in a lab or production network.
This talk will describe what a network digital twin is, what form it could take, how it can be instantiated, what one can do with a Network Digital Twin, and in what use cases it becomes vital. This talk explores the concepts and invites discussion and feedback; products and delivery plans, while crucial (in other contexts), are not implied.
Explore the development of HAWAT, an agentic AI assistant designed for network troubleshooting. This innovative system leverages advanced technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and Reasoning and Acting (ReAct) frameworks to autonomously manage network conditions and provide natural language interfaces for network administrators. Next, dive into the AI4LAM initiative, which is revolutionizing the cultural heritage sector. This collaborative network is dedicated to advancing AI tools and services for libraries, archives, and museums, enhancing the management and accessibility of digitized content while fostering innovation and knowledge sharing. Finally, discover the FedXAI4DNS project, which employs Federated Learning and Explainable AI to bolster DNS security in privacy-aware environments. This project showcases how AI can collaboratively detect malicious traffic, ensuring network security without compromising user privacy. This session promises to be a captivating journey through the latest AI innovations, offering valuable insights for anyone curious about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.
The AI for Libraries, Archives, and Museums (AI4LAM) community is an international, participatory network dedicated to advancing the use of artificial intelligence within the cultural heritage sector. The community is at the forefront of developing and maintaining cutting-edge AI tools and services tailored for heritage institutions to better provide access, management and (re)use of digitized and digitally born content by supporting collaboration, innovation, and sharing of knowledge in the field of AI for institutions worldwide.
AI4LAM's commitment to openly share and provide access to knowledge aligns with Open Science principles to make scientific research more transparent, accessible, and collaborative. The partnership between AI4LAM and the GÉANT community represents a unique opportunity to advance the use of AI in LAM. By working together, we can build a more innovative, secure, and collaborative future.
Machine Learning (ML) has seen limited adoption within large-scale networks (e.g. NRENs). Organisations are reluctant to share their data in fear of compromising end-user privacy, thus representative datasets to train accurate ML classifiers are usually not available. Moreover, complex black-box ML classifiers are not intrinsically explainable, hence network engineers are reluctant to deploy them. We present FedXAI4DNS that employs ML, Federated Learning (FL) and eXplainable AI (XAI) for collaborative and trustworthy detection of malignant DNS traffic produced by Domain Generation Algorithms (DGAs). FL enables collaborating organisations to jointly train privacy-aware classifiers without exchanging sensitive data, whereas XAI suggests methods for justifying configurations of complex black-box models. FedXAI4DNS aims at expediting ML adoption within collaborative environments (e.g. NRENs & GÉANT).
HAWAT (Heuristic Analysis With Adaptive Troubleshooting) is an agentic AI assistant for network troubleshooting. This presentation explores the development of a chatbot system designed to interface with network hardware, leveraging recent advances in Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and Reasoning and Acting (ReAct) agentic frameworks. Our system demonstrates how agentic AI can autonomously interpret network conditions, execute commands, and provide network administrators with natural language interfaces to network infrastructure. We will detail how the system was built and present pre recorded demos of the chatbot in action.
This session showcases how the TNC Community can be "Brighter Together" by looking at inclusion opportunities across a range of activities - from the accessibility of our services, through leadership considerations to diversity in technical teams, our speakers will demonstrate how addressing inclusion can improve our environment for everyone.
Following on from her highly successful TNC24 presentation where Teresa addressed the headline issues of leadership and culture, this TNC25 presentation will take delegates deeper into the leadership equation and consider how the critical elements of diversity, inclusion, psychological safety, and social conscience intersect to ensure ongoing cultural success within our NREN community. This session will not only inform delegates about the critical aspects and emerging trends but equip them with avenues to maximise the growth of their people and culture, to ensure a secure and successful future. The presentation will also showcase the NREN Global Leadership Development Programme.
As digitalization accelerates, so do cyber threats, highlighting the need for diverse talent in cybersecurity. ZoomIn4PinkHats - ZI4PH project, funded by the GÉANT Innovation Programme 2024, addressed these challenges through gamification, mentorship, and peer-to-peer learning methods. This presentation will highlight activities, research and project results conducted over six months in Croatian schools, focusing on bridging the workforce and gender gap in cybersecurity. This initiative would hopefully inspire shaping a more inclusive and resilient cybersecurity future, fostering diverse talent and innovation in the field.
When the digital products we buy are accessible, they can be used by everyone including people who are disabled, or who have other access requirements. Covering the current legal context for digital accessibility in the UK and the EU, this presentation will also consider:
From procurement teams to product owners, this presentation will be relevant for everyone with an interest in equal access to education and research.
This session will shine a light, maybe even a laser, on the global connectivity landscape, unwrapping how different world regions interconnect today and how that might need to evolve into the future. Delivering connectivity and building networks within a single country is business as usual for an NREN, but in this session we will learn about the challenges of deploying connectivity between continents, under the sea, and through some of the most challenging environments on earth. 3 unique perspectives from 3 different organisations will offer a fascinating insight into what it takes to continually enhance capability and keep research and education traffic flowing across the globe.
Global Connectivity has grown in term of bandwidth as well as diversity. This has not come about by chance but more of a deliberate and concerted effort by multiple NRENs to ensure the demands of the research and education community are met both in terms of bandwidth, resilience and trust with the increase in global collaboration. In 2024, the resilience in connectivity and backup plans was put to the test as we experience an abnormal number of cable disruptions around the world especially between Europe and Asia. Thanks to the foresight of NRENs leaders and the great work of the network engineers, the impact of cable breaks has been minimised. The presentation will cover how NRENs have collaboratively work together to ensure a resilient, pervasive Research and education network, ie how do we keep the data flowing across the R&E network.
Our presentation will provide an insider's view of the efforts required to built a nearly 9,000-kilometer-long submarine Internet cable with 21 landing points in the Mediterranean.This non-technical session will delve into the multifaceted process of constructing a submarine cable, providing an insider's view of the efforts required to create the digital infrastructure we use daily.
Submarine cable systems are essential to global digital infrastructure, enabling connectivity and international collaboration. Polar Connect is a bold and transformative initiative aimed at establishing vital connectivity between Europe and East Asia, across the central Arctic Ocean. This presentation will examine the pivotal role of Research and Education Networks (RENs) and public funding in the development of complex, critical infrastructure projects. It will also address the growing need for economic security and digital autonomy for Europe and its allies. Additionally, it will highlight how Polar Connect, through cutting-edge technological innovations, will benefit RENs, the global research community, and education worldwide.
EaP NRENs (ASNET-AM, GRENA, AzScienceNet, URAN and RENAM) invite you to a dialogue and a thinking space about GÉANT Community as a living entity, the entity that evolves in response to the technological, financial, and socio-political changes around us.
With all the changes that impact NRENs (and their constituents) how can the GÉANT Community programme be optimised to support all NRENs?
For the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine it has become possible for URAN to attend the TNC in person. Come and meet Tetiana Preobrazhenska (URAN) to learn first-hand about the impact of the GEANT Community support for the survival and resilience R&E community in Ukraine.
The experience of the continued community support and the troublesome events in other parts of the world raised the question of creating a Humanitarian support initiative in the Community programme, capitalising on the lessons learnt in Ukraine, to ensure sustainability of community support for other at-risk NRENs and R&E communities.
While change is constant and informed change is vital, we cannot look to the future without understanding our past and our present. In this session we will delve into three core subjects for NRENs: ITSM, Network Architecture and Strategic Design. Our speakers from Switch, Jisc and Sikt will share their wisdom & experience and explain how it has helped their present and future, and how it can help you too!
It's 2025. Switch is 38 years old. Teams have grown with a lot of autonomy, unique processes, and tools. While this structure basically works, delivering across boundaries is hard as complexity expands and the need for clearly demonstrated compliance increases. IT Service Management is not a topic to set pulses racing with excitement yet it became a surprising useful approach to build bridges across the organisation.
This is a story about throwing away a formal project to focus on grassroots engagement, organisational design principles and new ITSM tooling and processes to glue Switch together.
What do you need to think about when building and operating a research and education network? This will be a quick jaunt through some of the many factors that make up a network architecture, and how it fits into the environment that we operate in, from the fibre in the ground to the services we offer our customers and the regulatory environment we have to work in, both now and perhaps a bit of speculation where it might be in five years’ time.
The talk showcases how NRENs can enhance their effectiveness by integrating their technical expertise with other disciplines. We provide a concrete example with Feide, the Norwegian identity federation, illustrating how the application of design principles and expertise contributed to the creation of its product strategy. This cross-disciplinary approach can offer valuable insights and potential strategies for NRENs as they navigate their own future challenges. From our presentation, we hope the audience will take away:
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
Overview of the process which Manchester Metropolitan University have followed in assessing their research community's digital needs and how to cater for them. MMU identified a HPC service as being integral to drive their research ambitions following community consultation. We will share how we adopted a researcher-led approach to shape the new Microsoft Azure-based service currently being readied for production deployment.
Many NRENs are in the process of expanding their service portfolio with precise time transfer, or stable optical frequency distribution. As an update of its network, CESNET is currently deploying a large-scale infrastructure for time distribution. Offering coverage at more than 20 sites within its network, the rollout is heavily based on the SDN and DevOps paradigms, with SDN control of network elements and live telemetry data.
As part of the community hub demonstration, we present a functional model of the solution used for the deployment in CESNET’s network. The demo consists of a multi-span optical link which is used for simultaneous transmission of coherent optical traffic along with precise time transfer using the White Rabbit protocol. This setup, widely known as spectrum sharing, is a key enabler for cost-effective utilization of the existing fibre footprint. However, since data transmission typically employs a fiber pair, whereas the time signals benefit from bidirectional propagation through a single fiber, the optical setup is more challenging. The demonstration therefore employs a “regular” optical transmission system for data traffic, as well as spectrum filters and bidirectional, single-fiber EDFA amplifiers which are dedicated to the time transfer.
What is a day in the life of an NREN like? Do we all share the same daily grind? Are differences keeping us apart or are we brighter together?
In this session, 3 NRENs reveal their daily reality. They reflect on organisational culture, unravel the challenges ahead for NREN collaboration and question if the world needs more NRENs at all.
NRENs have come a long way as individual organisations and as a collective acting through GÉANT, and we’ve figured out how to achieve good and tangible results together. However, what served us well in the past may not be sufficient for the future. In this talk I aim to present a holistic and easy-to-understand overview of the challenges facing the GÉANT collaboration, possible paths forward and their practical consequences, benefits and cons, observed from the point of view of an active participant in the GÉANT collaboration. The aim of the talk is to provide food for thought: to make the wider GÉANTcommunity aware of the major issues at play and enable all community participants to participate in and contribute to the further maturing of the GÉANT collaboration from their perspective, so we can have a bright future, together
National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) have played a crucial role in fostering collaboration, innovation, and connectivity in research and education. However, the question remains: does the world need more NRENs, or should efforts focus on optimizing existing ones? What have we done, what have we not done and what do we need to do? This presentation critically examines the current state of NRENs, assessing their impact in addressing challenges. Drawing on case studies from existing NRENs, the session will highlight how they have tackled specific challenges while identifying areas for future improvement.
A look at the culture of NRENs from the perspective of how it can interact with and affect personal life. By looking into personal stories of emotion and trauma this talk brings to life how a good organisational culture can play out in daily life, how it affects individuals performance and wellbeing, and why NRENs are exemplars for simply getting these things right.
Strap in for a high-speed ride through the world of research networking! From deep-sea cables to black holes and stormy weather, this session explores how cutting-edge networks fuel fast, data-intensive research. When data moves at the speed of light (literally), challenges like security risks, infrastructure gaps, and massive data volumes can make or break a project. But with trusted environments, smarter architectures, and faster validation techniques, the research community is shifting into high gear. Whether it’s saving the planet, decoding the universe, or outpacing the next storm, this session proves that in research, speed isn’t just thrilling—it’s essential.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is an international collaboration of 11 telescopes and two correlator sites capturing groundbreaking images of black holes. Traditionally, data collected during observations is stored on physical disks and shipped to processing facilities, causing delays in confirming telescope configurations. This new precheck demonstration leverages high-speed research and education (R&E) networks to transfer a subset of data in near-real time to MIT Haystack Observatory. This enables rapid validation of site setups, reducing the risk of errors during critical campaigns. International Networks at Indiana University, in collaboration with global partners will demonstrate real time data processing and fringe detection to highlight the impact of advanced networking and collaboration on scientific discovery.
Fibre Optic Sensing (FOS) exploits fibres’ exceptional sensitivity to subtle changes in acoustics, strain, pressure, and temperature. Integrator instruments, AI assisted signal analytics and event fingerprinting, can monitor earthquakes, tsunamis, global environment, marine health, critical infrastructure, ocean vessels movements and more, in real time. The massive volumes of nontrivial real-time data pose significant data management challenges and has serious national security implications. To address this, a SUBMERSE project White Paper outlines a FOS Collaborative Framework, based on a "Trusted Research Environment (TRE)" approach, which will be elaborated in this talk.
Given the increasing frequency of severe weather events globally, the need for accurate and reliable weather forecasts, relying on Near Real-Time (NRT) data, has become more critical than ever. This presentation explores EUMETSAT's EUMETCast Terrestrial service, delivered over GÉANT networks, providing high-quality NRT meteorological data. It highlights the technical implementation of Automatic Multicast Tunneling (AMT) and Source-Specific Multicast, focusing on their impact on accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and reliability for weather agencies. The session also discusses the benefits of leveraging NREN infrastructure to enable efficient global data distribution, and examines how service evolution is meeting the growing demands of users.
As technology evolves rapidly, commercial vendors sometimes introduce services that parallel those in the research and education space—often in ways that don’t align with our usual practices. These advancements can present exciting opportunities for innovation, a chance to collaborate and influence development, or a potential threat to existing services. This cross-discipline session will explore how the community has responded to three emerging technologies, examining both the risks and opportunities they bring.
Wi-Fi is evolving, and there is a parallel universe developing besides eduroam. Come in and discover the basics of OpenRoaming!
Join us for an insightful presentation on the risks of distributed digital identity in research and education wallet. We will explore financial, legal, strategic, and security challenges, analyze market trends, regulatory hurdles, governance complexities, and data security concerns, and discuss effective risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Designed for professionals shaping the future of digital identity and distributed solutions, this session offers a global perspective with valuable insights for both regional and international stakeholders. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and engage in a critical discussion on shaping the future of distributed digital identity.
How to change a balance on a slack chord towards a brighter, safer future together? How can we bring our community together to have enough leverage in a big tech ruled world? We are striving for a brighter, safer, privacy-friendly future together and using the newest tech, with the lowest price, public values and a good feeling to top it. Companies are pushing and our members are challenging us as well. We are in a squeeze. In this talk we share our learnings, but it is especially a shoutout for cooperation. Who wants to join our movement?
EGI, EUDAT, GÉANT, OpenAIRE and PRACE recently announced the establishment of the e-Infrastructure Assembly. By joining this collaborative effort, EGI, EUDAT, GÉANT, OpenAIRE and PRACE seek to promote e-Infrastructures in the European Research Area (ERA) and its changing landscape.
Are you working with or are you directly involved in one or more of the e-infrastructures? Are you using e-Infra’s services? We want to hear from you! This Community Hub session will provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas on collaboration, innovation, community engagement, and joint advocacy activities across e-Infra’s and their communities. The session will also be a platform for eInfra’s to engage with the international Research and Education Networking community gathered at TNC25, and to promote mutual understanding and exchange between the communities.
As proactive NRENs start to play a crucial role in supporting research communities in open science, exchanging best practices and addressing their evolving needs in research data management (RDM) is essential. This showcase, organised by EUDAT, provides an informal and interactive space for NREN representatives to learn more about how they can benefit from EUDAT services, but also an opportunity to share their challenges, opportunities, and strategies for supporting open science.
The demo will focus on key aspects of research data management, including infrastructure needs, policy alignment, FAIR data principles, and supporting cross-border collaboration. Additionally, we will refer on the strategies and plans as EUDAT becomes one of the first nodes in the EOSC Federation.
NRENs are built on the power of collaboration, and true impact comes when we align technical expertise with shared purpose, global cooperation, and collective action. This session highlights three unique ways NRENs are working as one to deliver more than the sum of their parts. We’ll see how AARNet and Cybera leverage time zones for seamless security operations, how SURF’s shared vision strengthens strategy and community, and how 39 NRENs simplify cloud adoption through OCRE2024. Join us to see collaboration at scale in action!
The presentation "A Bright Future in the Cloud – Unique Collaboration on Cloud Procurement" at TNC25 will showcase GÉANT’s OCRE2024 initiative, a pan-European cloud procurement framework. Launched in February 2025, it unites 39 NRENs and approximately 25,000 institutions, securing cloud services worth up to €1.7 billion. With 416 framework agreements, it simplifies procurement, ensuring compliance, security, sustainability, and AI readiness. The session will cover outcomes, key benefits, tender goals, the working processes, and adoption insights, aiming to empower R&E institutions to leverage this innovative, large-scale collaboration. Presenters include experts from HEAnet and GÉANT.
AARNet (Australia) and Cybera (Alberta, Canada) are in close collaboration, taking the AARNet recipe of building and operating a Managed Security Operations Centre (SOC) Service and implementing it in Alberta. The benefits are multiple: Cybera have been able to stand up this complex service more quickly than if they had started from scratch, benefitting from AARNet’s hard-won experience over the preceding years. And in return, AARNet have been able to rapidly launch 24x7 operation, with Cybera analysts taking over the night-shift thanks to the favourable timezones. This presentation will describe the challenges and successes of this unique NREN collaboration.
The NREN community excels in technical innovation. True impact requires more than technical expertise though. Safeguarding autonomy, fostering public values, and embracing the benefits of collaboration must be part of a NREN’s DNA.
In this talk, we explore SURF’s journey to develop a shared story and common purpose as key drivers for growth and resilience. We show how this process became the foundation for long-term decision-making, focus, and prioritization.
By combining insights from both service portfolio management and corporate communications, we demonstrate how this approach can empower NREN’s to align their values, streamline their processes, and prepare for future challenges. This while ensuring everyone feels part of a shared heartbeat driving innovation in research and education.
Join GÉANT's Domenico Vicinanza to experience the Exchange Theatre through a soundscape of the TNC conference.
The Opening Reception will take place at the Brighton Dome, TNC25’s main venue, on Tuesday 10 June, right after the last parallel session of the day. This is your first chance to socialise with other delegates, meet the speakers and engage with our exhibitors.
Join us for the TNC25 Kick-Off Party at Shelter Hall, Brighton’s vibrant seafront food hall! Whether you’re networking, catching up with friends and colleagues, or just soaking in the buzzing seaside atmosphere, this is the perfect way to start the event.
Originally built in the 1880s as a refuge for local fishermen and beachgoers, Shelter Hall has been reimagined over two centuries later as a bustling hub of exceptional food and drink. Enjoy a variety of delicious offerings while taking in stunning views of Brighton’s iconic pier.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Shelter Hall is located on Brighton’s seafront at Kings Road Arches, just a short walk from the city centre. It’s easily accessible from Brighton Station and well-served by local buses.
WHO IS INVITED?
All registered participants (Full Conference Pass or Tuesday Social Pass holders) are welcome! Please bring your conference badge, as it will serve as your entry pass and allow you to collect your drink vouchers.
SURF Research Cloud is a national portal in the Netherlands where you can easily build a virtual or digital research environment (DRE). You can use pre-configured workspaces and datasets or add them yourself. Institutions, research communities, and suppliers can contribute to Research Cloud's functionality and catalogue by integrating their computing and data services. The portal abstracts access to both infrastructure, such as virtual machines running in private or public datacentres, but also "Above-the-Net" applications, such as JupyterHub or SURF Research Drive. We will showcase the current state of development, using a SUNET PoC-tenancy in the SURF Research Portal, instantiating infrastructure and applications in SUNET-operated datacentres, as well as connections to Sunet Drive.
The collaboration between SURF and SUNET was initiated as part of the GÉANT Innovation Programme in 2025 as a broader initiative to help other NRENs to discuss how national solutions like Research Cloud could be implemented for their own research communities, delivering convenient and sovereign DREs.
The EOSC Community within NRENs has continued to evolve and thrive - most recently with the EOSC procurement and EOSC EU / EOSC Node initiatives, as well as ongoing interactions by NRENs through EOSC Association membership and EOSC project participation. What more can we do together as NRENs and how can we holistically evolve our EOSC participation? This will be the focus of this community hub meet-up. It will serve as an important feedback loop ahead of the EOSC side meetings on Friday and be of interest to international colleagues who wish to find out more about the most recent EOSC developments and those who want to meet other Open Science advocates - EOSC Association representatives will also be there to answer your questions.
Invitation Only - please note this is a private side meeting for NREN CEOs only. Invites will have been sent directly to indiviudals who can attend this event.
This BoF will build on the successful, dynamic Gender Equality BoF held at TNC24 in Rennes, aiming to have an active discussion over the broader equality, diversity and inclusion landscape in the NREN and neighbouring communities. We plan to hold a panel session with short talks – to be invited or volunteered - in this area from across the NREN community leading to an active discussion of progress being made and opportunities to build in this area, with a focus on community building and concrete action.
A linked Community Hub proposal could act as an extension of the BoF, allowing for extended discussions with particular networks following the BoF; this would depend on sufficient attendees being available to provide appropriate staffing of the hub area and/or scheduling specific catchups.
The FileSender Board invites all interested persons to the annual meeting of FileSender service providers, users and developers to discuss the strategic roadmap, experiences with new versions, requirements, data mobility infrastructures, an NREN FileSender federation and whatever else is relevant!
Please register if you plan to participate so we have an idea of how many people we can expect
The Global eduroam Governance Committee (GeGC) comprises fifteen senior representatives of roaming operators in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, North America and Europe. It oversees the governance of the eduroam service, including recommending policy changes and admitting new participants. This open meeting of the GeGC allows NROs and other eduroam participants to get a unique view of the workings of this committee and an opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns.
The GÉANT Innovation Programme highlights the need for quick and accessible seed funding to support exploratory projects, testbeds, and studies. The Vietsch Foundation operates a complementary programme for research and education networking, providing funding for proposals requesting €30,000 or less with six-month duration or less. Learn more about this funding opportunity with a representative from the Vietsch Foundation.
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
Innovate with Cloud! Jisc is driving flexibility, security, and access across research and education. In this lightning talk, we'll outline our approach to:
Join us for a quick dive into practical cloud innovation powering R&E success!
When people are free to be themselves and do their best work, the benefits go beyond the individual. One of Jisc's four guiding principles is 'Always be inclusive', and we have a range of staff networks, including an LGBTQIA+ network. Our staff surveys tell us Jisc is seen as an inclusive workplace where they're free to be themselves. Hear from a co-chair of the network to learn some things you can put in place, big and small, to become an employer that enables everyone to do their best work by being their authentic selves.
Leadership is demanding. Today’s leaders need broader and deeper skills than ever before to meet the evolving needs of our organisations and successfully navigate these uncertain times. Join leaders and people development professionals to hear how their NRENs are building leadership capabilities. Find out how GÉANT has developed leaders for the future through a programme tailored specifically to those leading GN5 projects.
Quite a few NRENs have introduced Campus Network as a Service (CNaaS) in their service portfolio and others are considering. At TNC 2024, we organized a well visited BoF for knowledge exchange on CNaaS. In this 2025 BoF, we want to spotlight the new GÉANT CNaaS Special Interest Group (SIG) and invite NRENs to collaborate on developing and running CNaaS services, from a practical perspective and producing tangible results.
We invite BoF participants to share their thoughts about the different components a CNaaS service portfolio should contain, explore opportunities for collaboration on those components and what to prioritise. This could be items such as business models, technology, architecture, procurement, product management principles and software development. Everybody interested in campus network services is very welcome to join the BoF as well as the SIG.
If you’re interested to briefly present your NREN’s CNaaS effort, please contact the BoF organisers Maurice van den Akker or Jan Meijer.
The draft BoF agenda (90 min):
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
The presentation underscores the crucial role of Research and Education (R&E) in driving human progress across multiple dimensions—social, technological, and economic. It emphasizes how the OCRE (Open Clouds for Research Environments) framework, along with its selected service providers, contributes significantly to this mission. By streamlining access to cloud technologies, offering tailored professional services, and incorporating essential security and compliance features, the OCRE framework simplifies the cloudification process for R&E institutions. This initiative ultimately aims to make cloud resources as accessible and routine as any other daily tool, fostering innovation and efficiency at scale.
Among the providers selected, Sparkle stands out as a key player. As the first international service provider in Italy and one of the leading global operators, Sparkle has been awarded the OCRE 2024 Framework contract by GÉANT—the pan-European network and service provider dedicated to the research and education community. Since 2016, Sparkle has been collaborating with prominent institutions and leading cloud platforms such as AWS and Google Cloud to facilitate secure, predictable, and easily accessible cloud procurement for R&E organizations. The description of some use cases shows the capabilities and benefits in real case projects.
Thanks to its extensive experience and strategic partnerships, Sparkle has proven to be a trustworthy and capable partner in supporting the digital transformation of the research and education sector, in Europe and globally. By abstracting the inherent complexities of cloud environments, Sparkle ensures a seamless experience for users, empowering institutions to focus on their core mission—advancing knowledge and innovation.
Michel shares insights into how GÉANT selected Nomios in mid-2023 to replace its Juniper-based international IP backbone with new Nokia nodes. He’ll briefly introduce who Nomios is, and explain which Nokia equipment was chosen for this large-scale project.
He’ll also cover why the combination of Nomios and Nokia was selected, how the migration has been planned together with GÉANT, and where we currently stand in the rollout. Expect a clear overview of the project’s scope, progress, and what’s next.
This session will discuss why and how cloud enables the research community to innovate and progress with their work.
In this session, we learn about the six GÉANT Innovation Programme projects awarded in 2024. After the speakers share their project highlights, we move into a dynamic panel discussion to probe deeper into the impact of the Innovation Programme: Are we achieving innovation for and by the community or are we still falling short? Is this connecting to other innovation initiatives in our community like the GN5 Incubators? The audience is invited to actively participate and bring their ideas on how to improve the next iteration of the Innovation Programme.
The Innovation Programme projects include:
The Business Platform for OpenStack Clouds (BP-OSC) project is an innovative SaaS solution built to empower Cloud Service Providers using OpenStack technology. This platform is a unified toolkit, called the OpenStack Solution Kit, comprising four main components: the FlexoStack Configuration Portal, OpenStack Admin UI, OpenStack Customer UI, and the OpenStack Billing System. Each component is designed to integrate seamlessly, enabling cloud providers to manage public and private clouds effectively. This presentation will delve into the architecture and functionality of the BP-OSC..
The ZoomIn4PinkHats project aimed to promote cybersecurity among women and girls by empowering educators as mentors. Through an intensive bootcamp, teachers received hands-on training in Capture The Flag (CTF) categories, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to guide their students in small cybersecurity projects. By fostering mentorship, the initiative created a ripple effect, encouraging women to explore cybersecurity in a supportive environment. This approach not only increased awareness but also built a possible pipeline of future female cybersecurity professionals. ZoomIn4PinkHats demonstrated the power of mentorship in bridging the gender gap in cybersecurity and inspiring the next generation.
The DUxDi project aims to develop truly inclusive digital identity solutions that address the unique challenges faced by users with disabilities. By focusing on both accessibility and usability, DUxDi targets groups with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. The project emphasizes adherence to accessibility standards such as W3C WCAG and seeks to enhance key digital identity tasks, including registration, login, verification, and recovery processes. DUxDi proposes improvements in structural clarity, consistent labeling, and support for assistive technologies, ultimately ensuring that digital identities remain accessible, user-friendly, and secure for all users, guaranteeing a lasting impact.
Machine Learning (ML) adoption within large-scale networks is limited. Organisations hesitate to share data in fear of compromising end-user privacy, thus representative datasets to train accurate ML classifiers are usually not available. Moreover, black-box classifiers are not intrinsically explainable, hence engineers are reluctant to deploy them. FedXAI4DNS employs ML, Federated Learning (FL) and eXplainable AI (XAI) for collaborative and trustworthy detection of malignant DNS traffic produced by Domain Generation Algorithms (DGAs). FL enables collaborators to train classifiers without exchanging sensitive data, whereas XAI analyses black-box model operation. FedXAI4DNS aims at expediting ML adoption within collaborative environments (e.g. NRENs & GÉANT).
We will introduce a concept of satellite-airborne backhauling using multiple-laser-beam transmission, supported by a theoretical framework for its design and analysis. By leveraging multiple laser beams, this backhauling offers an innovative solution to the growing demand for high-speed connectivity and network availability. The solution could bridge connectivity gaps in underserved regions, support data-intensive global research collaboration, ensure resilience during crises, enhance network security, and promote sustainability. These capabilities align with GÉANT's mission to enable innovative, secure, and environmentally conscious networking solutions for education and research worldwide.
End-users of mobile applications hardly know which enterprises and countries are involved in their online activities, and the implied rights and risks. Researchers and regulators need actual usage data to verify data sovereignty compliance. MANANA aims at providing the former with understandable characterisations of infrastructure usage, and the latter with a monitoring system of actual mobile apps usage. The user will be enabled to choose among similar apps and report her data exposure (providing visibility to authorities). The app and the collection server are released as open-source.
This is a get-together for the members of the GEANT community, the international R&E Networks and vendors, working on quantum networking, quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication.
We will also kick-off the newly born SIG-Quantum, a special interest group that provides a forum for the community working on quantum technologies within the R&E landscape. The SIG will gather and exchange experiences, ideas and knowledge on the development, deployment, testing and standardisation of quantum solutions, leading to the development of a coherent quantum strategy across GEANT and the evaluation and testing of suitable quantum technologies.
Come join SIG-NOC to brainstorm ideas for the evolution of the SIG. The GÉANT SIG–NOC (Special Interest Group for Network Operations Centres) is a group in the GÉANT community formed by members of Network Operation Centres (NOCs) as well as network engineers involved in the integration and optimization of NOC tools and processes. It offers a forum for exchanging and promoting ideas, experience and knowledge on NOC tools, functions, workflows, procedures and best practices, facilitate inter-NOC discussions, liaise with GÉANT Operations (and other e-infrastructures), provide a breeding ground to discuss, and elaborate and disseminate early thoughts, that can evolve into projects or services.
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
Research and Education networks have always been at the forefront of technology, often with the highest traffic demands and toughest performance requirements. Exactly how AI will impact these networks is still to be determined but will likely add to the challenges of economically scaling bandwidth among data centers.
In this brief presentation, we will discuss the latest trends in optical networking innovation that will help NRENs easily scale optical transport networks in an uncertain future where bandwidth may rapidly accelerate due to AI workloads. Specifically, we’ll look at 800Gbps optics, supporting an IP over DWDM architecture and long-distance optical spans through pluggables directly mounted in IP routers.
Join us to understand the underlying innovation enabling this technological jump and how it fits in existing optical networks and the operational needs for NRENs.
This presentation explores how AWS AI services can be effectively integrated into educational environments to enhance both teaching and learning experiences. We will examine practical applications of AWS AI tools such as Amazon Bedrock, to create more engaging, accessible, and personalized learning content while improving instructional efficiency and student engagement.
"Big Data Works" presents perspectives on handling and analyzing large-scale network data. Gain insights from Brazil’s National R&E Network on leveraging monitoring data for aiding scientific research. Presenters from Restena and CIRCL from Luxembourg reveal how discarded “blackhole” traffic can uncover hidden security indicators and transform
defense strategies. Finally, CERN explains how HL-LHC’s upcoming tenfold data surge challenges Research and Education networks, introducing preparatory Data Challenges exercises.
HL-LHC, the upgrade of the LHC accelerator coming on-line in 2030, will generate a much larger amount of data then today, which will heavily impact the load of the R&E networks. This presentation will describe the computing model, how data will move in the R&E networks, the major challenges that the R&E community will face and how we are preparing to tackle them.
In security, a blackhole is a place in the infrastructure where incoming traffic is silently discarded without informing the source, therefore the traffic does not reach its destination. The blackhole traffic, or otherwise called unwanted traffic, can be considered as worthless traffic - trash. However, this is far from being the case. That traffic may include interesting attack indicators or even information about incorrect technical configurations that may be used for reconnaissance, so finding attack vectors on a new victim.
The takeaway of this presentation is to raise awareness about the importance of careful configurations of devices by showing practical examples and to show some mitigation techniques to properly configure devices such that your config does not talk trash!
RNP provides internet connectivity across Brazil and generates vast monitoring and performance data. To support research, RNP has developed tools to make this data accessible accessible. This presentation will address two central questions: (i) In what ways can monitoring data from NRENs drive scientific research? and (ii) What actions can we take to foster scientific research using this data? In 2024, RNP embarked on a series of targeted studies and actions to explore and answer these questions. Our presentation will share key findings from this work, which have contributed to answering these questions and demonstrating the value of these initiatives.
With a lot of investment going into time and frequency services, the question is being posed: Could the time service be done at a lower cost using legacy systems?
Raimena will talk about what is precision time and frequency and its importance for NRENs, low-cost deployments of these services by sharing existing optical data links with White Rabbit, and the work inside GN5-2 to prepare this for NRENs and GÉANT.
The evolution of the digital infrastructures is a never-ending journey, aimed to better and better serve their users, and whenever possible to pre-empt their needs. But what are the current and future scenarios that the NREN community is facing? What are the factors that are playing a role in shaping our environment, when seen from the point of view of someone that deals with our user community needs as his day-to-day job? This talk will try to raise the attention of our community on these matters and what could be their impact on the NREN community.
This session will unpack the EU AI Act and its critical role in shaping the future of AI in education, offering the TNC25 community actionable insights into navigating this regulatory landscape. As AI becomes essential to educational technology, compliance with the Act’s high-risk classifications and ethical standards is crucial for building trust and protecting learners. We’ll discuss how different stakeholders can collaborate to integrate these principles into AI development and deployment. Through examples from our EdTech development, attendees will gain practical strategies to embed ethical AI principles that support pedagogy, enhance trust, and transform educational environments responsibly.
Looking to explore advancements in digital identity management and student information systems across European higher education? This session covers the need to implement cross-border identity verification and access for international students in Swedish universities, automated course enrollment for European exchange students using eduGAIN and MyAcademicID in The Netherlands, and Norway's implementation of a shared Identity and Access Management (IAM) system. Together, these initiatives demonstrate the education sector's progress toward easing international student mobility while addressing key challenges in security, data quality, and institutional autonomy in an increasingly interconnected academic landscape.
In this TNC Talk, a technical solution is presented for the automatic enrollment of European exchange students in their selected courses at a host institution. The speakers will demonstrate how a student logs in to their home institution via eduGAIN and how OAuth tokens, issued by MyAcademicID, enable and secure the communication between institutions.
National identity schemes are often incompatible across borders, complicating access to essential services when moving internationally. IT systems struggle with verifying identities using localized attributes, causing inefficiencies, manual workarounds, and loss of student access. This is particularly problematic in education, where long-term access to academic records is necessary. Efforts within global identity federations and the EU aim to enhance interoperability using academic identities and ePassports. Addressing these challenges is essential for institutions managing cross-border identity assurance and secure access, as exemplified by the Swedish Student Information System, Ladok.
There is a lot of focus on IT- security measures in all organisations, but do we pay
sufficient attention to the people who navigate the organisation’s data and systems? The speaker believes more could and should be done to improve how we handle access rights and the quality of data about access rights. This presentation will discuss the rationales behind and experiences with the implementation of a common IAM solution for Higher Education & Research in Norway.
Fibre Sensing is one of the newest and rapidly growing area of interest for our community. One of the biggest challenges is around how data can be generated and shared in a Find-able, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) way, while at the same time keeping sensitive data secure. There are many challenges to this but one thing is understood: NRENs are a key stakeholder in each countries fibre sensing ecosystem. Come and join us as we discuss how the fibre sensing ecosystem is defined on a national and federated level, whats in it for NRENs, as well contribute to our understanding of how security and governance challenges could be addressed in each of your respective countries.
Fibre optic sensing (FOS) is one of the newest and rapidly growing areas of interest for our community. It offers enormous potential for scientific research, earth monitoring, infrastructure, security, and beyond. But with these new opportunities come complex questions—how do we manage data, navigate evolving legal and governance challenges, and ensure open collaboration? One thing is clear: NRENs are key stakeholders in shaping each country’s fibre sensing ecosystem. Join us for a series of short presentations and facilitated group discussions to explore how we can build a secure, collaborative FOS future.
Join us for an engaging session that explores innovative strategies to foster motivation, strengthen collaboration, and build a workforce prepared for the challenges ahead. Explore practical approaches for optimizing team dynamics and talent management, with a special focus on the unique needs of the cybersecurity and network sectors. Whether you’re looking to implement broad team-building tools or refine your approach within specialized fields, this session will equip you with actionable insights to strengthen your team and drive success.
In today’s competitive landscape, recruiting and retaining top network talent is more critical than ever. This session explores strategies like internal competence shifting, student outreach, university partnerships, and targeted recruitment campaigns that boosted our team by over 20%. Learn how fostering adaptability, lifelong learning, and youth engagement can build a thriving talent pool. To stay ahead, we must innovate and embrace fresh approaches—because "What got you here won’t get you there."
The Technology Training for Non-Traditionals (TNTs) taps into talent with unconventional paths to expand the cyberinfrastructure workforce. This session highlights the journeys of two early-career participants at SC24 in Atlanta. Hear how their unique experiences defied traditional career routes and led to thriving tech roles. Their stories offer bold insights into building a more innovative workforce.
Struggling to keep talent or boost engagement? Want a simple, fun tool to help you motivate your team and improve retention? This session, inspired by the Centre for Talent Retention, introduces a hands-on tool that reveals why people join, engage, and stay. Exceptional leaders know their people’s individual motivators and leverage them to improve morale and results. Walk away with actionable steps to create a happier, more productive team.
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
ENET (Kenya) and Jisc (UK) have joined forces through the GEANT Twinning Programme. Find out more about what we learned from each other, and how we're going to keep working together in the future.
Jisc has launched a Security Operations Centre (SOC) for UK research and education. Find out more about how cyber attacks affect our members and how SOC will support our sectors.
Sikt and GÉANT invite you to a live demonstration of the GEANT-Argus Dashboard, a powerful tool designed to aggregate incidents from multiple monitoring systems into a single, unified interface. Built using open-source software from our community, this dashboard enhances network monitoring and incident management.
During this demo, we will showcase the latest GÉANT NOC Dashboard, highlighting its capabilities in real-time incident aggregation. This demonstration will leverage Argus and GÉANT NOC backend services to illustrate how network operations centers (NOCs) can streamline their monitoring processes. Join us to explore how this open-source solution can enhance your network monitoring operations.
This session will bring you up to date on everything you need to knoq about Quantum developments in the research and education community.
This talk will provide a brief overview of key quantum technology initiatives across Europe, highlighting how they are shaping the broader research landscape. It will focus on the importance of aligning these efforts with the activities of the NREN community, showcasing opportunities for collaboration, strategic synergies, and the role of GEANT in supporting a coherent European approach.
As we approach the day when quantum computers could potentially decrypt our communications in an instant, securing our data transmissions against such attacks becomes crucial. This presentation will demonstrate how BeQCI, a consortium of which Belnet is a key member, plans to leverage the latest advancements in MDI-QKD to deliver on-demand quantum-secure keys across a star network, but also the drawback that are attached to the technology.
This presentation focuses on the deployment of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) within the infrastructure of national research and education networks (NRENs), addressing the growing need for quantum-safe communication as quantum computing advances. It highlights the integration of QKD technologies, including DV and MDI-QKD solutions from various vendors, into a real-world testbed to assess scalability and operational feasibility. The session will explore the technical challenges of deploying QKD, such as network integration, distance limitations, and vendor interoperability, and share lessons from the SURF QKD testbed deployment. Attendees will gain insights into the potential for NRENs to lead the transition to quantum-secure networks, ensuring the protection of sensitive research and education data against future quantum threats
As long-term GEANT partners (Latnet/Sigmanet), the authors present a new complementary initiative quantum communications. An experimental QKD technology and its integration into conventional communication networks, including PQC, have been developed and tested. Authors present/discuss the experience of national QKD backbone deployment at the conference. The project is realized in collaboration with partners from Latvia's state sector and industry.
Lightning Talks are 5 minute presentations focusing on one key point. This can be an idea, successful project, a cautionary story, collaboration invitation, quick tip or demonstration. This session is an opportunity for ideas to get the attention they deserve.
The rules for this session are easy: five minutes and only five minutes to get your message heard by the audience.
A brief look behind the curtain of web-based federated Single Sign On to uncover some of the reasons what Trust means, where it can go wrong, and why it's so important that everyone involved understands and holds up their end of the arrangement.
In this presentation, a simple phrase sets the stage: networks are like bad roommates — they let the wrong people in and don’t notice until it’s too late. For many institutions, especially NRENs, that’s not far from reality. Openness and collaboration come at a cost: complexity, risk, and growing pressure to stay secure and compliant.
This talk explores how combining Zero Trust with AI can offer a smarter path forward. No heavy jargon, no overcomplicated frameworks — just a clear, practical perspective on protecting what matters most in a world where even your own network can’t always be trusted.
This lightning talk introduces RNP's innovative digital document signing service that addresses longstanding challenges in digital signature adoption. Traditional digital signature solutions often require complex key management, expensive hardware tokens, and complicated verification processes. Our approach generates unique signing certificates for each document, eliminating key storage concerns while ensuring 100-year validity. The service leverages blockchain technology to protect against quantum computing attacks while maintaining compatibility with legacy systems. Federation-based authentication through CAFe enables seamless access for the research and education community without requiring pre-issued certificates. This talk will demonstrate how this streamlined approach dramatically lowers barriers to secure digital signing while actually enhancing security, making it particularly valuable for NRENs seeking to provide trusted digital services to their communities.
Showcasing the Jisc (UK) and KENET (Kenya) partnership, this six-month project focuses on knowledge exchange and connecting digitally excluded communities to research and education. We'll share how we have extended eduroam through innovation with mobile data and LEO/GEO satellite technologies.
We'll share our journey, challenges, and successes in enhancing connectivity and educational opportunities. Through fostering a sustainable, long-term relationship we hope sharing our work will inspire future global NREN collaboration.
Silos in IT (where teams work in isolation) slow down innovation, create inefficiencies, and hinder collaboration. These silos often emerge when developers, operations, and security teams work independently, leading to misalignment, bottlenecks, and friction. As a result, software delivery is delayed, system reliability suffers, and security is often an afterthought rather than an integral part of the development process.
DevOps isn’t just about automation, it’s a cultural shift that transforms how teams collaborate. It fosters a mindset of shared responsibility, continuous improvement, and streamlined workflows. DevOps breaks down traditional silos, ensuring that development, operations, and security teams work together rather than against each other. By embracing DevOps, IT teams can reduce friction, accelerate innovation, and create more resilient systems.
When we start a relationship with a new research institution, we are often met with skepticism by the IT manager and the researchers. The first believes that there is no one better than him to understand his own institution, after all he is the local security hero who needs to protect his kingdom from intruders. The researchers, on the other hand, are extremely independent and creative in their solutions for transferring data to his partners around the world (We’ve heard recently that some of them still transfer data physically using bus/plane to transport hard drives.). So, theoretically, they don't need us to support their job. On the other hand, we must adjust our NREN’s cyberinfrastructure and services in order for them to improve the performance of their massive scientific data transfer.
The solution we found was precisely to use scientific thinking to shorten this barrier. We drew up a process organized in stages to introduce ourselves. We started with online meetings with the IT manager, in which we asked about the challenges faced in transferring massive volumes of scientific data over our network. After a few meetings in which we gradually discuss their greatest problems, our relationship is established and we invite the researchers of the most demanding use cases to unravel the mystery of their scientific workflow. Hence, we start to collaboratively design the architecture (equipment, configuration and security policies) enable them to experiment a high-performance scientific network. We believe that the secret to success in this construction is sharing the context, building the relationship in an incremental and structured way, like scientific thinking, which allows us to break the ice with even the most suspicious scientists.
In an era of rising cyber threats, NRENs must continuously strengthen their security posture. But how can organizations that are lacking on time, people or budget rapidly upskill their teams, foster collaboration, and implement best practices effectively? Security Bootcamps !! a proven model, hands-on, high-impact training tailored to the unique needs of NRENs. Our past bootcamps have been incredibly successful, equipping participants with practical skills, peers and real-world experiences, and stronger security mindsets. Now, we are looking to expand this initiative to reach the entire NREN community and ensure that no organization is left behind in the fight against cyber threats.
Passkeys have been around for a few years now, so the biggest question is: why should you consider implementing them if you haven’t already? Passkeys are a username and password replacement, allowing end users to log in using biometrics, among other options. They represent a simpler and more secure solution for those using personal devices.
At Feide (Norway), we deliver the national solution for secure login in education and research in Norway. Here, there is a significant presence of major cloud vendors, particularly Microsoft. Many companies use Entra ID as an SSO solution, which already includes a passkey option. So, why would we go through the effort of implementing it ourselves?
Often times NRENs forget the fact that they are connected to a valuable resource that they don’t use. University students and staff. Some of the best talents are just within reach. How about we start using those connections and use them for making the institutions more secure?
That’s the concept of the one-day event that SURF and Switch carried out. Whether HALON (Hack ALl the EDucation) or the Swiss equivalent ROESTI (Report Open and Explotable Security Threats and Issues) both follow the same concept: Invite ethical hackers from the community for a one day event where they try to find as many vulnerabilities as possible, following the principles of Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure. This not only empowers the future generations of security experts but also brings them closer to the universities. We believe that both sides can profit.
This lightning talk will present real-world deployment scenarios for NRENs and the transformative potential of a solar-powered eduroam node. More than just a green solution, this node provides a resilient, scalable, and inclusive technology that is redefining eduroam's reach. Join us to discover how this innovation is not only growing NRENs and greening eduroam but also changing lives in underserved areas, one connection at a time.
We will show how NRENs can expand digital access to remote and underserved areas without relying on traditional power grids. It all started with an idea that was born at the Uganda NREN RENU: to develop a solar powered eduroam node which can work with all kinds of upstream infrastructures like 3G, 4G and 5G mobile infrastructures. RENU developed a solar-powered node that provides a groundbreaking solution, not just for sustainability but for resilient, inclusive, and adaptable connectivity.
This lightning talk highlights the need for ‘green networking’ through energy efficiency and optimizing network infrastructure and design for sustainability. The topic ‘From Dark to Green’ stems from the recent South Africa (SA) national energy (load-shedding) crisis, the effect it had on the SA National Research and Education Network (SA NREN) infrastructure and its beneficiary community, and a look into actions and further considerations for sustainability. Collegiality and shared ownership of the NREN had been a model that served the SA NREN community well for the better part of the last two decades. Unfortunately, frequent load-shedding upsets this balance. While some institutions can fund alternative electricity generation, others simply cannot. Most institutions worked closely with their facilities department to optimise the data centre, adjust procurement for frequent generator costs, and plan accordingly to accommodate load-shedding stages. As an NREN, actions such as bolstering backup power solutions in critical areas, network augmentation and the bypass of problem sites through patch-throughs and optical bypasses were implemented. Further network protocols and design improvements were implemented alongside resource optimization strategies through virtualization and consolidation. With no ease in load shedding, as a community, further discussions around renewable energy sources, power purchase agreements, and other regional solutions were investigated to find creative ways to minimize the impact on institutions’ research, teaching and learning activities.
Nepal’s Himalayas are experiencing rapid glacier retreat, rising temperatures, and increasing climate risks like glacial lake outburst floods, making them highly vulnerable to climate change. Despite its critical role in climate research, Nepal’s Research and Education Network (REN) remains largely underutilized, limiting its contribution to global climate studies.
This talk presents an opportunity and a call to action for global research communities and developed NRENs to support Nepal by building research partnerships for climate studies in the Himalayas. Strengthening these collaborations not only helps tackle the urgent climate crisis but also helps improve REN utilization for research activities, a persistent challenge for many emerging NRENs, including NepalREN. By leveraging REN for climate science, we can demonstrate its vital role in addressing one of humanity’s greatest challenges.
Join us for a memorable evening at the iconic Brighton Palace Pier, where you'll enjoy seaside fun, exhilarating rides, and excellent opportunities to network with your peers, all set against the backdrop of a stunning sunset.
Experience the highlights of Brighton’s vibrant local culture!:
WHO IS INVITED?
All registered participants (with a Full Conference Pass or Wednesday Social Pass) are cordially invited! Please, remember to take the conference badge with you as it will be your entry pass for the event.
DRESS CODE
Casual. The event will take place outside for much of the evening; we recommend wearing comfortable clothing and footwear.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience Brighton's charm and build connections with your peers. Join us for a night filled with excitement and camaraderie!
This dinner is hosted by Jisc.
This session will look at what it means to become a sustainable NREN.
But what exactly do we mean by sustainable NREN - Is it reducing climate impact? Is it having a diverse and inclusive work environment? Is it having services which are accessible? Is it being financially sustainable? or is it all of this and more?
As members look to make their supply chain more sustainable Jisc is seeing increasing pressure to report environmental impact and social value. Other NREN's are being driven by legislative drivers to report on sustainability. So, how can we ensure that networks are delivered sustainably and that we, ourselves are sustainable organisations.
There will be case studies presented: from JISC, SURF and GEANT followed by an open discussion on how NREN's are delivering against the UN Sustainable Development Goals and what the Sustainability Special Interest Group can do to support peers and promote sustainability across the GEANT network.
Strong member engagement remains critical for NREN success. The aim of this session is to share experiences, insights and perspectives from NREN Member engagement experts from across the globe. What works (and also what didn’t) - with a focus on new strategies and examples of latest initiatives. The session will include short ‘lightening talks’ followed by a moderated panel discussion and includes time for audience questions/participation.
There has been exceptional interest in the GEANT Security Bootcamp training for NRENs programme. Come learn more about how your organisation can take part and also share what you need from a Security Bootcamp trainings programme so it can be further customised for the Security Community. Former Bootcamp participants will be present to share their experiences.
This session will kick off a discussion on NREN’s Mail Abusemanagement services on a European level. DFN (Germany's NREN) has such a service ("DFN-MailSupport") in place for our institutions since 2013. We see new methods and technologies arising while others are in question to keep pace with modern spam technologies. There may be potential for a collaboration on a European level, e. g. by bundling procuring aspects if there should be tools/partners that other NRENs also have in use.
There are at least 11 NRENs in Europe running a Mail Abusemanagent service (or aspects of) but there is not yet an established community group on the topic. This is an initial meet and greet to explore the possibility of coming together to share experiences on a more formal level.
Many organisations are only considering transitioning to IPv6 when they are running out of IPv4 addresses. The canonical solution is dual stack, IPv4 and IPv6 coexisting on the same link, until it's safe to shut off IPv4. But does this really help? IPv4 addresses continue to be used and some problems may remain hidden until the very last moment. Is there a better way forward?
Enter IPv6-Mostly, a technique that allows networks to selectively 'pretend' they are IPv6-Only. Through this approach, endpoints signal that they no longer need IPv4, and the network ensures this 'white lie' is seamless and believable. The beauty of IPv6-Mostly lies in its ability to enable a controlled and incremental transition to IPv6-Only, and highlight where IPv4 is still needed or where it can be de-commissioned.
In this BoF I would like to briefly introduce this technique for people who may not be familiar with it, and share some deployment experiences, including both horror and success stories.
The majority of the session will be an interactive discussion, encouraging participants from all levels of experience - whether they have already implemented IPv6-Mostly, are just beginning to explore it, or are simply curious about the technique - to share their experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another.
This BoF is for people interested in eduVPN. It aims to present the work done since our last meet-up at TNC24 as well as the current roadmap for the software, answer questions from NRENs and research and higher education institutions and gather new requirements
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths.
AWS maximizes institutional benefits by providing high-performance computing, machine learning, and cost-optimized solutions to European research and education organizations through the OCRE framework agreement, enabling simplified procurement across 39 countries. This partner-led framework combines AWS's comprehensive cloud capabilities with streamlined purchasing processes, helping institutions accelerate research outcomes and educational innovation while reducing administrative overhead.
Learn about how you can take part in the GÉANT Twinning Programme, designed to foster impactful collaborations between National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) worldwide. Gain an updated overview of the programme's objectives, benefits, and eligibility criteria. We'll explore recent developments and discuss successful case studies from previous Twinning projects. We will also provide an opportunity for Networking & Partner Matching for NREN representatives to connect, network, and explore potential partnerships. We'll facilitate interactive discussions and group activities to identify potential collaborations based on shared interests and complementary expertise.
Submarine fibre cables are the invisible yet crucial part of global communication. Beyond the original purpose, the same cables are becoming luminous threads enabling us to discover the fascinating world beneath the waves. Join the Bright Cables session to explore how the submarine cable infrastructures are evolving into powerful scientific tools, sensing the pulse of our planet in real time. We will be highlighting how data movers are becoming data generators, from Polar Connect’s strategic potential in harsh and unexplored environments to the SUBMERSE project’s transformative vision of turning network into proof-of-concept environmental observatory. Become a part of the growing, collaborative community illuminating the ocean’s hidden dynamics—seismic shifts, marine life, and other interesting things—with each bright strand of cable lighting the path to the future.
This talk is about three interlinked stories about how a community was formed within our midst. The stories concern the SUBMERSE project, a novel EC funded research project which aims to turn our network from a data mover to a data generator. The project didn't start as a solid concept, rather is was an evolution of an idea, iterated over time, through the hard work and dedication of multiple people. Now with 25, soon to be 26 project partners, the SUBMERSE community continues to grow. This is a call to action to join this growing community at an opportune moment in the evolution of the concept.
In the depths of our oceans, a technological revolution is unfolding. Fiber optic submarine cables are evolving from mere data highways to dynamic environmental sensors, unlocking unprecedented scientific opportunities. SUBMERSE harnesses Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to monitor marine life, seismic activity, and vessel traffic in real-time, enhancing research and infrastructure security. Our solution streamlines data collection, providing actionable insights that enhance environmental understanding and infrastructure resilience. Together, we support sustainable development and advance scientific discovery, creating a network that generates valuable insights for the benefit of all.
Emerging technologies utilizing fiber optic submarine cables present novel research opportunities across diverse scientific fields. Studies have also shown considerable operational and security advantages, not only for the cable itself, but also in its vicinity. This presentation will provide a review of several relevant technologies and their uses, particularly highlighting their significance for Polar Connect.
Lightning Talks are 5 minute presentations focusing on one key point. This can be an idea, successful project, a cautionary story, collaboration invitation, quick tip or demonstration. This session is an opportunity for ideas to get the attention they deserve.
The rules for this session are easy: five minutes and only five minutes to get your message heard by the audience.
In a world where open science and HPC projects are becoming increasingly intertwined and are driving the need for new and more demanding infrastructure, we are obligated to go about this in a sustainable way and ensure that the supercomputing centres and data repositories will be used to build a greener future.
For the past two years, Arnes HackathON has been joining the values of open science and HPC infrastructure to give students the chance to co-create their own sustainable future by following the UNESCO SDGs in their models, applications and ideas, which they also learned to publicly present in an attractive and understandable manner.
The challenges addressed the most relevant and current issues in Slovenia, like climate change, social justice, sustainable energy, and food scarcity. We promoted interdisciplinarity in the teams spanning more than 200 students in the two editions, and put focus on including social sciences like sociology, pedagogy and linguistics.
Effective IT solutions have grown into complex systems that provide services with requirements from a variety of stakeholders. Tales of FEII is a story-driven presentation from the perspective of an NREN, namely Sunet in Sweden, on how such systems can be implemented and improved over time by applying four core values to everything they do: Function, Efficiency, Innovation & Integration.
A function represents the fundamental deliverables of services, provided by implementing essential functionality, covering the majority of the stakeholder requirements. Efficiency is not only required to scale a solution to a certain size but also to remain performant or to use as few (human) interactions as possible to achieve a certain task. Some like to describe those through nonfunctional requirements or other KPIs. Innovation is needed when stakeholders have requirements that have not yet been implemented by the vendor, often requiring a careful assessment of the known unknowns. Integration is the often underestimated effort to combine standalone functionality into a seamlessly integrated solution.
We will walk you through the four core values of FEII by providing representative examples, elaborating further on how one can apply them to their own projects, and how IT solution providers can use them to prioritise some of their development efforts.
Across the world, the digital transformation of higher education is accelerating—but not necessarily in ways that benefit institutions or students. In the US, commercial platforms dominate, embedding vendor lock-in into the core of learning infrastructures. China takes a centralized, government-driven approach, consolidating education under state-controlled digital platforms. India is rapidly scaling government-backed digital universities, while the Global South struggles with dependencies on external platforms, creating long-term vulnerabilities.
In Europe, we face a choice. The Competitiveness Compass and Union of Skills initiatives aim to strengthen Europe’s digital position, but policy alone isn’t enough. Universities must take an active role in shaping their own digital ecosystem, ensuring that technology serves education—not the other way around.
This talk will cut through the buzzwords of digital transformation and focus on the real question: who controls the future of higher education’s digital infrastructure? Using examples from the EduXS project and the Digital Education Hub’s interoperability work, it will illustrate how universities can reclaim their digital sovereignty through open standards, interoperability, and collective governance.
This is a call to action: if institutions don’t set their own agenda, someone else will do it for them. And we as NRENs are there to help.
We all want a more secure Internet, but what if our best security practices are silently breaking connectivity? As NRENs and providers implement MANRS, an unintended consequence is emerging—hidden routes that go unnoticed until they disrupt traffic and drive up costs. How can we fix this without compromising security?
My talk will highlight the issues GÉANT faced in identifying and mitigating the effects of hidden routes, demonstrating why and how other providers and NRENs should detect, analyse, and mitigate hidden routes within their own networks, helping them avoid the pitfalls GÉANT encountered.
Stateful network applications such as firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems depend on frequent memory access. However, traditional computer architectures struggle to scale effectively under the high throughput demands of modern networks. The primary bottleneck is unsurprising—high memory latency and limited memory bandwidth, which greatly constrain overall performance.
By leveraging FPGA acceleration, we can revolutionise the architecture of high-performance stateful applications, achieving unmatched scalability, efficiency, and real-time processing capabilities. For research networks, ISPs, and cybersecurity infrastructures, this means faster, more adaptive systems capable of handling ever-growing network demands with minimal latency and maximal flexibility.
Anyone working on networking applications sooner or later faces the challenge of making things faster. There is just so much you can do as you patiently wait at your socket for a packet to go layer by layer up the network stack. But what if you didn't have to? Let me introduce you to XDP, a lightweight and highly flexible framework for fast packet processing that is already a part of your Linux kernel.
At Cesnet, we set out to expand our Cesnet Network Development Kit platform with XDP, curious to see if it could match the performance of DPDK and our proprietary solution while using only the tools already available to everyone in their Linux distribution. What we found is a powerful technology that bypasses the kernel network stack and gives you absolute control over the packet processing from the moment the packet arrives on the network card while using the tools you might already be familiar with as a Linux programmer.
In this talk, I'll break down how XDP could help you create high-performance, flexible network applications that can run on nearly any Linux distribution across a wide range of supported hardware.
Judging jump rope freestyle routines at the highest competitive level has become increasingly challenging due to the evolution of jump rope. Both the number of skills that are included in a routine as well as the speed with which these are executed keep increasing. This is particularly evident in so-called Double Dutch Freestyle routines, which is why assigning scores to these freestyles is done by a combination of live and delayed evaluation. The creativity of a routine (including its variation and musicality) is scored in real time, but the assignment of the appropriate difficulty level is done based on a recording of the routine replayed at half speed right after it is performed. Even though this helps reduce errors in difficulty scoring, a certain variability in the assigned scores persists/can still be seen. To make the objectivity in scoring more robust in Gymnastics, Fujitsu collaborates sinds 2017 with the International Gymnastic Federation to develop a Jury Support System (JSS). The results were first introduced at the 2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championship being the first in the field. Since then, even more accessible AI tools, better computational resources, and pre-trained models have emerged. Inspired by this example and others such as sign-language recognition, or NextJumps speed counter (2023), which outperforms judges in counting speed steps, this study sets out to explore the creation of an AI jump rope assistant capable of recognizing skills based on video recordings, which is different from the sensory input the JSS is using.
The current idea is divided into three independent modular sections, as a simple but rather unique composition. The first section involves localizing the jumpers in the field as most obtained recordings are not fully zoomed in or recorded using a static camera. This means jumpers can be cropped, sparing computational resources. Using Ultralytics latest YOLO version provides satisfying cropping results. While they are not perfect yet, focus is put on the second and third sections, namely skill segmentation and skill recognition.
By integrating state-of-the-art action recognition AI models such as temporal convolutional networks, convolutional networks using attention, or video vision transformers, full recordings can be split into multiple skills, which mostly means splitting the video by leaving or landing on the floor. Processing these predicted action segments, each split should contain one identifiable skill, which can be predicted using the same model or the best model for skill recognition.
In case it works, it is not only useful for jump rope freestyles but also applicable in other judge-related competitions such as gymnastic routines, figure skating, or synchronized swimming. Meanwhile it is usable or adaptable for educational environments, research on movement analysis, or rehabilitation centers keeping track of a patient's evolution.
Using its modularity, training can be done through distributed systems, and in case better models show up for a single module, it can be replaced separately.
The development of AI is transforming all the core activities of higher education institutions (HEIs), with its risks and opportunities manifesting at different scales depending on the context. As AI evolves rapidly, understanding its impacts is also constantly developing, yet discussions can be challenging due to the overlap of technological, ethical, societal, economic, and practical perspectives. Moreover, distinguishing between short-term effects, temporary or solvable changes, and long-term challenges remains difficult.
The AITO Framework (AI in Innovation, Research, and Education), developed by CSC – IT Center for Science, is a tool designed to help higher education institutions navigate the AI-driven transformation. Shaped through joint discussions with Finnish HEIs, the framework provides a structured approach to understanding how AI impacts the core functions of universities – research, education, partnerships, and support services. It covers changes of different scales and time spans.
The AITO Framework can be used in multiple ways to guide and enrich discussions within HEIs, networks, and among different stakeholders as they reflect on AI’s impact and manage the change. It serves as a reference point for strategic planning and supports deeper conversations about the sustainable use of AI in the future.
This lightning talk will offer a brief introduction to the framework and consider the potential role of National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in facilitating joint discussions and training on AI-driven change in HEIs, its management, both nationally and across borders.
Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Cernter has been involved in supporting cultural heritage and digital humanities sector for more than 20 years now. One of the recent developments, in collaboration with the Poznań City Hall and Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU), is an online platform for supporting activities of various institutions in the plain language context. The main goal of the platform is to simplify official communication (e.g. letters) sent out by local governments or companies to their audience (citizens, clients). The platform, called Proste pismo (Simple writing) was created as a database of official texts to be simplified in the language layer using semi-automated mechanism based on dictionary of simplified phrases. With time new features has been added, such as templates of documents, a dictionary of complex phrases, and an AI (artificial intelligence) module to automate the whole process. The AI module provides simplification for a given text fragment using relevant LLM model. Initially the model used in the AI module was based on BART, however, in subsequent developments and based on executed experiments, the Polish LLM Bielik model has been added. In BART case the basic LLM is trained based on relevant set of training documents prepared by the language experts from AMU. It is worth mentioning that the data processed by the models is not shared outside the service, i.e. the processing part is integrated in the platform. In addition, the results of simplification are processed using the Pisarek index (readability score for Polish language) and the Fog index, both being related to each other. Using other language model in the context of Proste Pismo is possible after appropriate training and parameterization. An important note is also to remember that the task of the AI model is not to replace the human (user) actions, but only to support them. Because of possible errors and hallucinations, any result obtained using AI should be verified by a human, especially in such a sensitive task as communication.
Difficult conversations are inevitable—but they don’t have to be awkward or anxiety-inducing. In this five-minute talk, we’ll cover quick tips for navigating tough discussions with confidence and clarity. From setting the right tone to staying calm under pressure, you’ll learn how to address uncomfortable topics while maintaining relationships and achieving productive outcomes. Whether it’s giving feedback, delivering bad news, or handling conflict, this talk will equip you with practical tools to make hard conversations easier (and maybe even a little less painful).
What do the EURO banknotes and the GÉANT community have in common? This will be the subject of this talk. Taking the audience on a short "tour of time," I wish to showcase the importance of access (windows and doorways) and connectivity (bridges) through time (transformation) as a means to Unite in Diversity.
Used in 20 Member States, and being the world's second reserve currency; the EURO is one of the clearest tangible results of the European Union, and a true example of European compromise. Still, albeit changing hands each day few observe it in detail. Banknotes depict windows and doorways on one side to symbolise openness and cooperation and bridges on the other to symbolise communication between the people of Europe and the rest of the world. As it features seven architectural eras but no concrete structures, the banknotes reflect on the transformation of Europe's cultural, universal heritage, accumulated into the motto of the European Union, 'United in Diversity'.
Similarly, the GÉANT and the NREN networks are used every day. They open windows and build bridges seamlessly over time, facilitating the digital transformation of the Research and Education sector. As the fiat currency, the GÉANT community is also built on trust.
In this talk, I will draw from my personal experience—transitioning from a career as an architectural engineer to working in community and stakeholder management. Reflecting on my current role at GÉANT in partner relationship management, I will explore how designing physical structures has evolved into designing meaningful connections between people and organizations—and why these are often more important than bricks and mortar.
Expanding on the timeless metaphor of building bridges, I will highlight the often unseen work of partnership and community building and its vital role in the ecosystem of R&E networks. I will zoom in on the concept of trust as the building matter of the GÉANT community and proceed to outline a reading of it as an action-enabling factor and a determinant of organizational resilience, especially in the context of our community's diversity.
By using metaphor as both a technique and a lens, this talk aims to make the less tangible aspects of our work more concrete and visible.
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
The Exchange Theatre will take place in the Corn Exchange at the iconic Brighton Dome, in the middle of all the exhibition booths. Gold and Platinum partners will host several presentations in the Theatre. A detailed presentation schedule will follow later on.
NORDUnet is the regional collaboration of the five Nordic National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), working together to accelerate digitalisation in the Nordic research and education (R&E) ecosystem. Aligned with its strategic goal to be recognised as a key collaborator both within the Nordic region and internationally, NORDUnet supports the strategic objectives of the Nordic NRENs by offering a unified response to shared challenges.
Through the delivery of essential services such as Zoom, Kaltura, and LMS platforms—delivered on NORDUnet’s robust infrastructure—NORDUnet strengthens data protection and operational resilience for educational institutions. Looking ahead, NORDUnet is actively exploring the expansion of services to meet evolving needs across the Nordic and global R&E landscapes.
NORDUnet also plays a vital role in supporting open science and FAIR data by contributing to the EURO-FP and EOSC EU Node service delivery consortia. As coordinator of the AARC project, NORDUnet leads the advancement of the AARC interoperability framework, providing a blueprint for federated authentication and authorisation systems for the global research community.
Finally, by delivering high-capacity global network connectivity, NORDUnet ensures Nordic researchers remain active participants in major international scientific endeavours such as the LHC, SKA, and EISCAT.
In an increasingly interconnected world, research and education transcend geographical boundaries. Yet, the challenge of seamless multilingual collaboration, especially while safeguarding sensitive data and intellectual property, is paramount for academic and research institutions. This session will explore how DeepL, a leading European AI company, specialising in Language AI, is revolutionising global communication within these sectors. We'll delve into DeepL's enterprise-grade security features and commitment to digital sovereignty, demonstrating how institutions can leverage this technology to foster international partnerships, accelerate knowledge dissemination, and enhance accessibility without compromising data integrity. Discover how partners like SoftwareOne are helping institutions securely integrate and utilise DeepL's capabilities to unlock the full potential of global academic exchange.
In this session, we invite participants to discuss how we can characterize our https://dadosderede.rnp.br/ data repository as a disciplinary one for the computer network area. As a disciplinary repository, it should propose its own domain ontology, defining concepts and variables/metadata of the computer network area. We also intend to present the metadata defined in the datasets mentioned in the single presentation “Unlocking the Potential of Network Monitoring Data for Scientific Research”, which takes place in the Big Data Works session on Weds 11 Jun.
This session is an open meeting for anyone looking to make optimal use of their research and education (R&E) network connectivity to share experiences, challenges, success stories or problems associated with getting their applications to perform to the level required for their use cases.
Researchers, scientists, GÉANT and national research and education network (NREN) operators, and campus network staff are very welcome, be their interest large-scale data transfers, low latency real-time streaming, or other applications which put specific demands on the network. We will encourage discussion of higher-level architectures for optimal performance, such as Science DMZ, and data movement, monitoring and visualisation tools such as Globus, Rucio/FTS, perfSONAR and NetSage.
The session will aim to equip you with practical and actionable steps to get ready for a crisis in the cybersecurity field. We’ll start with looking at an example where practical cybersecurity and (cyber-)security education come together to create an innovative security education service. We’ll continue by sharing insights in developing a method for Cyber Risk Assessment, enhancing risk assessment capabilities within the research and education ecosystem. We will also explore key Marketing and Communications strategies for managing crises such as network outages and cybersecurity incidents, helping to mitigate reputational damage and foster resilience resilience in today’s challenging digital landscape.
Luxembourg Cybersecurity 4 Research & Education (LuCySe4RE) or LuCy in short, is a two-fold cybersecurity project funded by the European commission and is a perfect example how practical cybersecurity and (cyber-)security education join forces to provide a new security education service to the Luxembourgish research and education community (and beyond). In this presentation we will show the educational perspective of the LuCy project and the security education outcomes of the first year.
Although there are security services, guided by well-established policies and procedures; Risks is a hard process to implement and use. In view of this, the RNP created a project to standardize the way cybersecurity risks are assessed and improving the cyber protection is provided for corporate system components and for the research and education environment. This proposal aims to share the methodology developed, with the improvements made based on validations in the form of pilots, so that the research and teaching community can take the risk vision to the leadership, and then implement it.
As an NREN, a working group, or as an individual, we do a lot of things: we create, engage, connect, inspire, collaborate, fix, work, break, learn, innovate, support, solve problems, adapt, grow, win, and sometimes fail. In this session you will learn how to share our successes more effectively and examples how it has been done right. By doing this, we can make sure our hard work gets noticed and has a bigger impact and becomes more visible, helping us build a stronger and more connected digital community.
You are doing amazing work, but are you communicating it effectively? Many ICT professionals focus on their projects without prioritising how to share their results and achievements. This presentation challenges the “work in silence” mindset and demonstrates the value of strategic communication.
NREN sustainability relies on effective stakeholder engagement. Drawing from RENU’s experiences, this presentation explores strategies to build trust, secure partnerships, and expand impact. Aligned with TNC's 'Brighter Together' theme, it offers actionable insights to strengthen relationships, ensure sustainability, and drive inclusive digital transformation in an evolving, competitive environment.
This session celebrates the 10th anniversary of In The Field Stories, a platform that has united the global Research and Education Network community through stories of collaboration and innovation. Reflecting on a decade of impact, the session will explore the blog’s journey and future potential. Attendees will gain insights into its evolution, practical storytelling techniques, and a shared vision for shaping the next chapter of this inspiring tradition.
This session delves into recent advancements regarding authentication and authorization in the R&E world. It has three speakers from three different continents each with their own topics: improving access to sensitive datasets, describing the transition to a different authentication method for better security and usability and defining phishing-resistant MFA. By listening to the different perspectives of the three continents, we aim to give insight into research access on a global scale.
R&E federations are evolving to meet increasing demands for both strong authentication and verifiable identity assurance. This session will provide an update on the REFEDS MFA Profile Working Group’s efforts to refine authentication assurance, including defining “phishing-resistant MFA.” We’ll also highlight InCommon’s work to align the REFEDS Assurance Framework with evolving research and funding agency requirements. Attendees will gain insight into upcoming changes, practical implementation considerations, and how to get involved in shaping the future of federated identity assurance.
This presentation explores how the Australian Access Federation (AAF) worked with the CADRE project to streamline access to over 1,000 social science datasets. The project used REMS and CILogon to implement workflows based around the 5-Safes principles to manage access to sensitive datasets. Attendees will learn how leveraging federations and authoritative attribute sources (e.g. ORCiD) can enhance research data access, streamline approvals, and simplify compliance. The session will also cover key challenges, solution components, and the next steps for CADRE’s 2025 launch.
Authentication and authorisation for the High Energy Physics computing grid infrastructure has been based on X.509 certificates since its inception in the early 2000s. In recent years an emphasis has been placed on modernising the stack, facilitating integration with external cloud infrastructure and improving usability and security - all of which have naturally led to a transition to JWT tokens over OAuth2 and OIDC. Important questions are emerging from the operational experience of using tokens - particularly finding an appropriate balance between operations and security. We aim to solve these problems by working together with the wider TNC community (though projects such as AARC-TREE) and complete the migration to token workflows in the coming years. We will share the vision and progress so far.
Join us at TNC25 to explore the critical role of policy in shaping the future of NRENs in a rapidly changing world. At a time of increasing geopolitical complexity, NRENs face a dynamic policy landscape. The policy challenges facing NRENs are diverse and interconnected, ranging from dealing with evolving EU regulations and country-specific public policy issues, to working with multinational organisations and understanding the impact of global events.
This session aims to lay the foundations for a collaborative network of policy experts to address these challenges. We invite all NREN participants interested in proactive and informed policy dialogue to join us. This hub will serve as a starting point for the establishment of a permanent SIG that will foster collaboration and knowledge sharing to ensure that NRENs remain flexible and resilient in the face of the changing policy landscape.
Are you curious about specific legislations, policies, the workings of the EU, and the Member States’ role therein? This is your chance to ask your questions to the EU Liaison Team!
The European Union's legal framework determines not only the future of GÉANT and the NRENs based in the European Union, but also that of the Candidate Countries and the Neighbourhood. While the European Union grapples with the current geopolitical turbulences, this affects countries outside of Europe as well.
This session provides a face-to-face opportunity to discuss any issues you may have with upcoming legislations, the inner workings of the EU, and medium/long-term strategies. We hope to answer all your questions and contextualize technical issues in the larger agenda of the European Union. At the same time, your questions are of great value to us to calibrate our focus.
This session will explore key aspects of infrastructure orchestration in NRENs, focusing on automation and management strategies. Topics that will be discussed include simulation and monitoring of network changes, orchestration practices within Europe’s leading research networks, highlighting successful implementation and the lessons learned. Finally, we’ll try to outline future initiatives and advancements in orchestration for NRENs, offering a forward-looking perspective on emerging technologies and strategies. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how orchestration can enhance network efficiency, reliability, and scalability. The session will also encourage discussions on the role of automation in shaping the future of collaborative research infrastructures. This session promises to offer a comprehensive view of orchestration in the context of scientific networking, with a focus on innovation and future trends.
The GÉANT Orchestration and Automation Team (GOAT) presents 2 of its tools, aimed primarily at network operators, but also suitable for academic environments: Containerlab-as-a-Service, a management stack to easily replicate production-like networking environments; and Moodi, a real-time telemetry tool that provides on-demand telemetry with dynamic dashboards and custom metrics.
Our presentation will highlight the procedural changes made at GÉANT to enable the packet layer migration of all routing equipment in the GÉANT backbone network. We will highlight the importance of working in cross-disciplinary teams, the challenges that come with this and how we have overcome them. We will present how both backbone and NREN-facing services are migrated via the GÉANT Automation Platform (GAP), including an overview of the architecture of the GAP platform, as well as an in-depth explanation on how migration workflows are put into practice. The presentation will also include an update of the status of the network, and of the transition to new Nokia platform. We believe this will be of interest for the TNC audience, as we will show not only how GÉANT is migrating its network services, but also how we are achieving this within a team combining expertise across multiple domains and by using a software platform developed in cooperation with our community.
SURF has fully orchestrated its network and is now advancing NOC efficiency by integrating real-time data and automating daily operations. In 2025, SURF will begin migrating its fully orchestrated SURFnet8 to SURFnet ∞, facing challenges in leveraging growing telemetry data and AI-driven network management. This talk explores the evolution of SURF's orchestration stack, how the number of datasources (OSS/BSS) influences the efficacy of our NOC, the role of AI in network operations, and the broader impact on NRENs adopting automation. It aims to inspire collaboration, share use cases, and foster discussions on how Automation & Orchestration can use AI and a high level of integration with OSS/BSS to lighten the workload for NOC engineers.
This year, TNC25 unveils a new exciting concept – the Exchange Theatre, which serves as a space for networking, learning, and collaboration, using a silent disco set up.
For two decades, perfSONAR has served as a robust platform for network performance measurement and analysis, built and maintained by a vibrant open-source community from various R&E organisations. This presentation will celebrate 20 years of collaboration, recap the recent changes, briefly describe the current feature set and the roadmap ahead. We'll invite you to participate by showing yourself or your organisation on our perfSONAR users map.
To address GÉANT’s strategic goal of meeting user communities’ ever-growing international data transfer demands, the connectivity between GÉANT and RENs in other world regions will need to grow, adapt and remain highly resilient to disruptions.
In this Community Hub session, the GÉANT GN5-IC1 team will set out how GÉANT is approaching the various elements of our approach to securing the R&E connectivity needed between Europe and the rest of the world for the coming decade, and will provide a chance for the audience to ask questions and share their thoughts on the approach.
This presentation will reflect on the evolving identity and strategic direction of the GÉANT community. It will showcase success stories, anticipate future challenges, and emphasise the community’s role in enabling a secure, inclusive, and innovative digital ecosystem for research and education in Europe.
What should our interconnected world of research and education look like from 2025 and beyond? This panel discussion in the closing plenary will explore how shared principles of our community can be preserved amid rapid technological and social change across the globe. It will also examine the evolving role of public R&E, and how diverse world regions can shape their digital futures in mutually beneficial ways. How can public our infrastructures grow, adapt, or transform – and how can our place in the global Internet be safeguarded?
The EOSC EU Node provides a blueprint for the creation of national/regional/thematic nodes that are expected to be deployed and federated with the EOSC EU Node. Various aspects of the service delivery, such as AAI, delivery model, security will be discussed during the meeting.
The session explores the new OCRE 2024 infrastructure-cloud framework agreements – covering key elements, procurement processes, and practical implications. It then delves into three ongoing joint GÉANT Above-the-Net service investment proposals in development: Digital Research Environment (DRE) software, sovereign European object storage, and for infrastructure large-scale research data movement.
Come and join us to explore how our planet works by learning how to turn state of polarisation data into information which can be used for research purposes. This meeting will cover how to generate SOP data from a live network, process it and understand it.
<span style="color:red">NOTE: Unfortunately, no further registrations can be accepted. We have reached the attendee limit for this meeting.</span>
The mission of REFEDS (the Research and Education FEDerations group) is to be the voice that articulates the mutual needs of research and education identity federations worldwide. The group represents the requirements of research and education. Come and join us to discuss updates to our annual workplan, working group progress and updates from the identity federation community.
The agenda for this meeting can be found on the REFEDS website.
Global Network Advancement Group (GNA-G) meetings are usually well attended by the Global REN community. The TNC25 side meeting would feature working group updates on GREN security, resiliency, data-intensive science, and more, aiming to foster collaboration, discuss emerging trends, strengthen global intercontinental connectivity and services for scientific research and education.
More information about the meeting can be found here
EUMETSAT, NOAA, GÈANT, the European NRENs, Internet2 and other international partners and R&E networks will present the status of the services provided to EUMETSAT, discuss future requirements and plans, the global collaboration around meteorology and the distribution of meteorological data across the R&E networks worldwide. Open workshop to all interested persons willing to attend.
The EOSC federation is being built and at least 20 NRENs have key (national) roles in this phase. This meeting will focus on the business and technical aspects of EOSC federation participation by NRENs with an aim to share experiences and approaches and further the use GÉANT components
The aim is for the SIG-Procurement to get together and engage in collaboration to exchange experiences, ideas and knowledge on the field of procurement, with a particular focus on developments in the R&E community.
<span style="color:red">NOTE: Unfortunately, no further registrations can be accepted. We have reached the attendee limit for this meeting.</span>
SIG-RED aims to try and help NRENs understand what the latest developments and trends in the research landcape globally are and also how to better engage with Research groups in country.
The agenda for this meeting can be found here.
The eduGAIN Townhall is an open meeting for eduGAIN participants, stakeholders and interested people to know and discuss about the present and the future of federated authentication at a global scale.
The agenda for the meeting can be found on the eduGAIN wiki space.