FIRESTATION · Future Internet Research and Experimentation SupporT AcTION

FIRE STATION provides the globally known FIRE (Future Internet Research and Experimentation) Initiative with an active hub that matches, guides and co-ordinates demand for - and offering of - experimentation facilities in the context of future networks and services. The heterogeneous and modular field of Future Internet Research and Experimentation with its national and international stakeholder groups requires information sharing, cohesion building, community building and a preferential point of contact to co-ordinate and promote the FIRE approach with respect to the following main requirements: 1) Facilities need synchronization, resource optimization, and common efforts in order to offer customers the best possible service and ensure their sustainability beyond project life times. 2) Researchers need correct and timely knowledge about the available resources, easy access, high usability and appropriate tools to run and monitor their experiments.<br/>FIRE STATION implements a FIRE Office and a FIRE Architecture Board that both build upon the FIRE co-ordination results that have already been obtained. The FIRE Office serves as the preferential point of contact and the mediator when either looking for the right experimental resources or new customers for the facilities. The FIRE Architecture Board involves all FIRE facility builders to jointly decide on the strategy and means to co-ordinate and facilitate the development of FIRE facility offerings to support the evolving needs of the customers. FIRE STATION increases the global collaboration between relevant stakeholders, promotes experimentally-driven approach in future internet research and intensifies the usage experimental facilities, ultimately speeding up the development process of new systems and services. FIRE STATION also actively promotes experimentally driven research and the usage of experimental test facilities in Europe and beyond.