Forschungsnetz

Forschungsnetz is a term used to describe a dedicated network infrastructure that interconnects universities, research institutes, laboratories, and often industry partners to enable fast, secure exchange of scientific data and access to distributed computing resources. It complements the public Internet by offering higher performance, reliability, and services tailored to research needs.

The core purpose of a Forschungsnetz is to support collaboration across institutions and disciplines. Key functions include high-capacity data transmission, access to shared computing resources and high-performance computing (HPC), data repositories and archival storage, and tools for collaboration and remote instrument control. Identity and access management, secure data transfer, and adherence to data governance policies are central components of the service portfolio.

Governance and operation are usually organized through national or regional consortia. Funding often comes from government ministries, research foundations, universities, and European programs. Operators maintain the physical infrastructure—such as fiber-optic networks, switches, and interconnection points—and provide services, support, service level agreements, and user training. Security, privacy, and data governance are emphasized to protect sensitive research data and to meet regulatory requirements.

Notable examples and regional contexts include Germany’s Deutsches Forschungsnetz (DFN), which operates a national Forschungsnetz linking universities and research institutions, and the pan-European GÉANT network, which interconnects national research networks to enable cross-border collaboration. While the concept exists worldwide, implementations vary to fit local research ecosystems, funding, and policy environments.