Global Environment for Networking Innovations (GENI: Establishing the GENI Project Office (GPO) (GENI/GPO)

The Global Environment for Networking Innovations (GENI) is an experimental facility concept conceived by the computing research community.  GENI promises to support the experimental exploration of robust new networking and distributed systems architectures and services that will revolutionize computing and simultaneously contribute to US competitiveness in IT and economic growth.

In order to support the GENI design and development process, the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) will support the work of a GENI Project Office (GPO). Working closely with the computing research community, the GPO will assume responsibility for completion of all GENI preconstruction planning requirements as described in NSF's Guidelines for Planning and Managing the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction Account.  Upon successful completion of the multiple stages comprising GENI design, and contingent upon support from NSF management, the National Science Board, the Administration and the Congress, GENI will proceed to the construction phase with funding provided from the agency’s Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account.  

It is anticipated that the GPO will then have full responsibility for overseeing the construction of the facility, ensuring that GENI is delivered on time and within budget.  Upon successful GENI construction and commissioning, the GPO may subsequently operate the facility in service to the computing research community.

To ensure that all GENI activities are driven by fundamental research opportunities in networking and distributed systems, the GPO will work closely with the computing research community in all aspects of the design, development, construction and operation of GENI.  The community’s research interests in GENI will be represented by a GENI Science Council (GSC) comprised of research leaders in networking and distributed systems; the GSC will be chartered and supported by the NSF-funded Computing Community Consortium.  The GPO will work in partnership with the GSC in all aspects of GENI design, development, construction and operation.  The GSC will also develop a GENI Science Plan, a “living document” that will evolve over time as new scientific opportunities and challenges are identified.