IGE

In order to continuously support the European computing infrastructures and to exploit possible synergies, it is of crucial importance to coordinate the European Globus activities, drive forward the developments according to the requirements of the European users and to strengthen the influence of the European developers in the Globus Alliance. Topics like security or privacy, data privacy protection, compatibility with Grid standards used in Europe to enable interoperability, and aspects of multi-nationality are important in Europe and deserve a stronger representation in Globus. Long-standing relations with the Globus developers and recent negotiations with the Globus Alliance enable us to introduce necessary adjustments into the code base of the Globus Toolkit. Computing infrastructures like DEISA and PRACE can immediately rely on the high-quality middleware required to run these infrastructures while reducing their own efforts keeping track of new developments. With the establishment of the EGI, the IGE can take over the role of providing Globus Toolkit components to the Unified Middleware Distribution (UMD) of EGI. The Initiative for Globus in Europe serves as a comprehensive service provider for the European e-infrastructures regarding the development, tailoring, customization, provisioning, support, and maintenance of components of the Globus Toolkit. This can involve the continuous measurement of software quality, but must also include the operation of a software repository as well as participation in standardisation bodies, training, promotion, and documentation activities. In order to guarantee the sustainability of this effort the main activities are based at large European computing centres and industrial partners. The first steps will be the establishment of a European Globus User Forum and the organization of a yearly Globus Europe conference series in close cooperation with the organisers of the Globus World conference.