Klaas, thank you for sharing these few minutes with CEDIA. Tell us about yourself. Where do you work? What do you do?
I work at GÉANT, the pan-European data network for the research and education community that interconnects national research and education networks (NRENs) across Europe, enabling collaboration on projects ranging from biological science to Earth observation and the arts and culture. I am currently responsible for Community Engagement and the Trust & Identity Portfolio.
I want to ensure that my team addresses, as effectively as possible, the needs of the Research and Education community, not only at the European level but also globally.
I believe our portfolio of services enables students and scientists to work together across the globe. Working together requires understanding and adapting to one another, and that's why we not only support world-class research and education but also contribute to a better world, as many problems arise from a lack of understanding.
Well, I've been, along with other technology and research professionals, at the forefront of federated identity solutions, and I believe they've been key to the transformation of our industry. They've also been a great support for research and academic development.
To be honest, it was because I was having connection problems. I was working at the time for the Dutch NREN, SURFnet, and visiting universities daily where I had a lot of trouble connecting to the internet. We were using a RADIUS-based dial-up service and experimenting with 802.X-based access control in student residences. The core idea was really just to combine the two for Wi-Fi access.
Actually, it's millions, and that's super cool! If at least once in your career you have an idea that makes so many people happy and contributes a lot, then you can look back and be proud.
This tool is now key for academia. What is your opinion on technological change in research?
I believe we must constantly seek ways to improve research collaboration. This is even more crucial than in the past, as research has become a truly global activity, with groups collaborating from all over the world. This is reflected in the adoption of the eduGAIN service, which interconnects identity federations worldwide, simplifying access to content, services, and resources for the global research and education community.
My team and I are working on a number of very interesting projects, offering online learning resources, new ideas for Eduroam, applications for secure access to resources, and more. We have many new projects planned for next year that we hope will continue to be implemented and used by research networks worldwide.
I think the most important thing is to understand that a successful innovation project can't be fully planned. What you need to do is create an environment that fosters fresh ideas and allows those interested in innovating to succeed. Creating the right conditions, supporting people with ideas, and being willing to take some risks are key.
The development of innovation projects has grown significantly in recent years, but there is still insufficient support and resources to carry them out. This is a problem that is gradually being addressed thanks to the strong support that research networks like CEDIA can provide to researchers and students.
I think it's impressive how far CEDIAhas come. A strong NREN, like CEDIA, is key to a thriving research and innovation sector! For me, it's truly gratifying to see the great development in research and connectivity that Ecuador has experienced in recent years. The CEDIAteam has undoubtedly been a major pillar of this development, and for this, I want to extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes for continued growth and success.
