In the week commencing 10th November, ULAKBIM welcomed members of the GÉANT community to Istanbul for a full programme of meetings and strategic discussions. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Bosphorus, the events took place at the Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Albert Long Hall Kültür Merkezi, providing an inspiring environment for collaboration.
GÉANT Security Bootcamp – Cybersecurity training for SEE NRENs
The training, based on a strong hands-on approach, guided participating NRENs not only on best practices discussed in the room, but also on how to apply them internally and how to use the security baseline framework as a practical tool for improvement. This collaborative learning environment reinforces a shared goal: strengthening security capabilities across the community, that grows stronger together.
SEE Directors Forum: strategic dialogue and regional alignment
In the afternoon, the SEE Directors Forum opened with GÉANT CEO Lise Fuhr in attendance. The forum explored the composition of SEE NRENs and reviewed selected data from the GÉANT Compendium, sparking a discussion on the evolving role of SEE NRENs within the new GÉANT Strategy.
Representatives from SEE NRENs expressed strong support for the strategy, highlighting several key needs: more flexible funding models, deeper cross‑regional collaboration under GÉANT’s coordination, continued investment in strengthening network capabilities in the region, and maintaining unity despite national and organisational differences. Several participants noted that GÉANT’s established presence in Brussels places the organisation in a strong position to remain agile amid the shifting landscape of the European Commission and today’s geopolitical climate.
Lise reaffirmed GÉANT’s commitment to reducing fragmentation across the community, emphasising that “acting as one” remains a central organisational principle.
The forum concluded with forward‑looking discussions on regional participation in the new AI Factory Antennas initiative and preparations for TNC26. ULAKBIM closed the day by hosting a dinner and an atmospheric Bosphorus boat tour offering attendees a memorable view of the city from both its European and Asian sides.
CEO Visit to ULAKBIM
The second day included a dedicated visit by GÉANT CEO Lise Fuhr to ULAKBIM, part of her year‑long series of introductory meetings with NRENs across Europe.
The visit gave ULAKBIM the opportunity to present not only their role as national network providers for research and education, but also their portfolio of services for libraries, researchers, and the wider academic community.
Several remarks were raised regarding the representation of NRENs outside the EU Member State constituency. ULAKBIM expressed its willingness to support stronger cooperation among research networks in partnerships further East, ensuring that regional challenges and opportunities are well reflected in Europe’s research networking landscape.
ULAKBIM highlighted the importance of GÉANT’s mission to interconnect national networks and bridge their differences, ensuring that research infrastructure serves the needs of all. Mediation and collaboration play a key role in integrating the diverse “identities” within the community and GÉANT facilitates dialogue among networks, helping unify perspectives and promote increasingly effective cooperation.
Services and Technology Forum (STF)
Some attendees stayed on to join the regular STF meeting. Toby Rodwell (GÉANT) shared the latest updates from the world of GÉANT Network Services. Presentations covered progress on EuroHPC’s new HyperConnectivity service, networking developments for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and GÉANT’s successful trials of new long‑haul optics for the upcoming Nokia router platform.
Appreciation
A warm thank‑you goes to ULAKBIM for being an exceptional host, a strong supporter of GÉANT, and a trusted partner to the entire community. Their hospitality and commitment helped make the week both productive and memorable.
