The EIFFEL Initiative A European Discussion and a Possible Step Towards a Future Internet Forum Dirk...

The EIFFEL InitiativeThe EIFFEL Initiative

A European Discussion and a Possible Step A European Discussion and a Possible Step Towards a Towards a Future Internet ForumFuture Internet Forum

Dirk Trossen, Ph.D.

UCL, March 1st 2007

EIFFEL: Evolved Internet Future for European Leadership

THE FUTURE NETWORKED SOCIETY 2 © EIFFEL Think Tank 2007

Background


EIFFEL – How Did It Come About?

• Launched by the EU Commission (J.Da Silva, July 2006)• Group of technical experts acting as individual • Structure: 4 working groups

1. Evolution scenarios, technological and socio-economic drivers (D.Trossen, D.Kofman)

2. Technical Challenges (D.Papadimitriou, G.Polyzos)

3. Policy challenges, risks and opportunities for Europe

4. Planning and Coordination Group (P.Mahonen, D.Kennedy)• Produced a white paper available at http://www.future-internet.eu • Presented during an open & free workshop (Brussels, 15th of Dec.

2006)

http://www.future-internet.eu/


Key Findings (1)• A number of high-quality consortiums are planning projects,

or have projects and academically oriented initiatives in the domain

• Some large Integrated Projects are in formation– European Technology Platforms (ETPs) have ongoing discussions

• There is no need, or possibility, to meddle with the existing structure. – But the EIFFEL group discussions have shown that a common

ground for discussion between different domains could be useful, taking in account also experts in policy, legal, and economic issues


Key Findings (2)• Although evolutionary research part seems to be covered

very well, and also design towards the future test beds is progressing, there is too little and usually smaller emphasis on exploratory high-risk, high-gain research.

• There is need to have a better bridge between high-quality evolutionary research conducted with the forthcoming project and exploratory smaller projects. – The current model of small presentations in coordinating

(concentration) meetings is not enough to foster open, academic-style and critical exchange of ideas, especially at the architectural level. Although premier IEEE/ACM conferences will help somewhat they are not fulfilling all the requirements.


Key Findings (3):Encourage the Culture of Risk Taking

• Evolutionary research seems very well covered, but too little and usually smaller emphasis on exploratory high-risk, high-gain research

• Need for better bridge between high-quality evolutionary research and exploratory smaller projects

Market

Technology

Existing

Emerging

Existing Emerging

Internet today

Future

Networked

Society

Exploratory

Interaction desirable

Evolutionary

Market

Technology

Existing

Emerging

Existing Emerging

Market

Technology

Existing

Emerging

Existing Emerging

Internet today

Future

Networked

Society

ExploratoryExploratory

Interaction desirableInteraction desirable

EvolutionaryEvolutionary

?

ETPs

Standards


EIFFEL Whitepaper Recommendation

Setup Support Action/Coordination Action in order to enhance more in-depth discussion in this field

along the lines of the EIFFEL findings


After the Whitepaper: Main ConclusionStrive for implementation of recommendation made in

whitepaper

-> create SSA action plan now

-> aim at creation of some coherent European initiative

-> seek international dimension of any action

-> ensure scientific excellence in order to leap forward


Proposal


What is Needed in Short Term?• An European Forum that ensures that there is a coherent

discussion forum on the future internet research. This discussion should include not only technical but also policy and governance related issues.

• The discussion forum is not about coordination, it is there to allow a lively discussion and disagreement on topical & technical/scientific issues.

Guarantee & enforce scientific, technical and policy level

debate in Europe on guiding principles for the Future Networked Society

↓

EIFFEL


What is Needed in Long Term?• An international forum that ensures coherence between

the international research community, aiming for maximum impact along the explorative path

• Allowing regional initiatives to thrive yet build communities that will span these local initiatives

Guarantee and enforce scientific & technical level debate within the international research community on guiding

principles for the Future Networked Society

↓

Future Internet Forum


Provide (international) forum for discussion of explorative research towards the Future Networked Society

– between researchers within different disciplines– between regional initiatives (such as FIND/GENI, EIFFEL)– between explorative and evolutionary paths– towards other forums like ISOC, IRTF, IETF– towards experimental research activities like Arcadia and Fire

High-level technical meetings– Open but with strong demands on track record

• By invitation based on with technical merits– Brainstorming & exchange of ideas, less strict “roadmapping” – Scientific consensus building and identification on new

challenging areas, based on reviewing merits of ongoing research -> finding the “far-sight” ideas

– Develop guiding principles for the Future Networked Society

Value added support for research community– Pool of independent experts build with TCs (Technical Committees)– Informal reality check review through newsletter and reviewed “journal”

Connect with infrastructural efforts (e.g., GENI, Arcadia, FIRE)– Feed visions and research into deployment and vice versa– Ensure that experimental research is fundamental when researching

towards the Future Networked Society

EIFFEL Objectives

Internet

today

Exploratory

Evolutionary

Future Networ

ked SocietyC

reate

Mo

me

ntu

m

Cre

ateC

oh

erenc

e

Pro

vide

Su

pp

ort

Pro

vide

Gro

un

din

g


What EIFFEL is NOT EIFFEL does not intend to define, specify or roadmap

the Future Internet!

• EIFFEL is not trying to enforce any specific trajectory for research– …it is a neutral & peer-reviewed (academic) inclined structure

• EIFFEL is not defining the Future Internet Architecture, nor it is defining future projects

– …EIFFEL members can naturally setup projects as they wish.

• EIFFEL is not project driven, it is not aiming to build industrial consensus

– Membership is based on technical people joining in as individuals, minimizing corporate agenda

• EIFFEL is not taking a specific position on test networks – …but will discuss on those, if members wish so


What EIFFEL is NOT

• EIFFEL is not focused to single technology domain– Wireless, Mobile, Core Network, Theory … it is covering all aspects

• EIFFEL is not organization or academic institutions driven– Individual members come with technical merits both from academia and industry

• EIFFEL does not intend to override established procedures for project evaluation, e.g., in the European Union

– “Review” must be seen under the objectives of EIFFEL, i.e., sift through research towards the Future Internet, identify excellence, point out missing elements in certain domains or areas-> EIFFEL can review project-specific results, if they’ll be submitted to the process, under the light of coherence building, identifying the areas of improvement etc. -> It WILL NOT review project-specific results under an EU evaluation type of perspective

– EIFFEL reviews are to be seen as added value not a MUST-> might create peer pressure in case EIFFEL “label” is seen as worthwhile to obtain

• EIFFEL does not set rules for or coordinates other initiatives– Facilitation is key


EIFFEL– Process Framework• EIFFEL develops principles for Future Networked Society by

– facilitating and stimulating scientifically oriented discussions e.g. fundamental architecture principles

– providing specific reviews on how it sees international progress on Future Internet oriented activities

– building synergies b/w research areas & coherency b/w their results

ALL outcomes e.g. reviews, “thinking papers” are public

ALL publicized results can be used by all project (operate under a typical academic licensing)

• EIFFEL outcomes– Exchange of ideas, research retreats public summaries – EIFFEL Review Newspaper/Journal public, open for projects– Build pool of expertise/experts that can support other later activities– Comparative analysis


Area1: Future Architecture Area1: Future Architecture

Area 2: Enabling Transmission Technologies

Area 2: Enabling Transmission Technologies

Area N: …Area N: …

Trajectories of the Future Internet

Possible EIFFEL Processes

Full Meetings andOrganizing Committee

(ca. 8 members)

Full Meetings andOrganizing Committee

(ca. 8 members)

Meetings, ReviewsMeetings, Reviews



Reinforce research cohesion

Feedback

Feedback

Feedback

Roadmaps

Discussion

Research Community(e.g., ETPs, NoEs, STREPs, IPs

Test Beds (GENI, Arcadia))

Research Community(e.g., ETPs, NoEs, STREPs, IPs

Test Beds (GENI, Arcadia))

Input through subm

issions

Dissemination

Evaluation

Facilitation

Trajectories of the Future Internet

New Challenges EIFFEL Journal EIFFEL eForumDissemination

TC1: …TC1: …TC1.1: …

TC1: …TC1: …TC2.1: …

TC1: …TC1: …TCN.1: …


• This approach will work only if we get scientific community mobilized behind EIFFEL idea– Driven by individuals not their organizations– Seeking high profile yet wide endorsement-> will seek letter of support from individuals (website & mailing list)

• If there is not enough interest and participation, stop endaveour after 18 (?) months– measure success of bootstrapping process-> clear milestone in application

• Don’t isolate efforts as some European-only initiative– Engage in discussions on international collaboration-> eventually raise “uberstructure” on international level

Way Forward? B

oo

tstrapp

ing

Breakp

oi

nt

Inte

rnatio

naliz

e


Further Information

http://www.future-internet.eu

• Whitepaper• Mailing list• Later: forum, boards, etc.

http://www.future-internet.eu/

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