The European Commission has invested in and widely supported the development of Grids for both business and scientific research. This major investment in Grids and related technologies will help generate a vibrant computing sector in Europe, leading to the creation of new skills, new jobs, and new opportunities across the region. With much of the ground work in place, the key question is how best to capitalise on these new opportunities by enabling technology transfer from R&D projects into commercial services and products.
This issue’s Special Report is dedicated to Knowledge Transfer in the UK, an article written by Alex Efimov from the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) with a contribution from Ian Osborne from Intellect UK. The first feature tells the story of Imense Ltd, a small start-up from Cambridge (UK) and its connections with EGEE, GridPP & the STFC.
Our Year in Review, EGEE on the Road in 2007, looks at a sample of events supported by the Industry Forum, including Industry Days and the EGEE’07 Business Track.
Outreach to business has focused on the benefits of Grid technology across different vertical markets and for companies of all sizes. The Industry Day in Greece explored how Grids can enable SMEs with emphasis both on possible applications and the paths to adoption.
Grid not only plays a key role in enabling the pharmaceutical industry, but also offers huge potential for health care systems. These opportunities were explored during the Industry Day in Bratislava (Slovak Republic) and the Business Track within EGEE’07. The year concluded with an Industry Day in Paris targeting the financial services sector.