​Governance and Management

Collaboration for Success

Large and complex, GN3plus, the latest term of the GÉANT project, has over 250 project participants based in organisations in more than 40 countries across Europe. Streamlined collaboration and clear communication channels are vital, together with strong leadership and an effective governance structure in place to assure the continuing success of the GÉANT project.

Several bodies contribute to the overall successful running of the project through well-defined and well-organised management and control structures.  An essential aspect is to guarantee that the views of GÉANT's users are represented and, with this in mind, the governance model includes representation from across the community.

Click here to download the GN3plus Governance Model 

Policy making and implementation

The Partners’ Assembly deals with overall policy and the Executive Board oversees its implementation.

  • The Partners’ Assembly is the top-level decision-making body of the GÉANT Consortium. The Assembly consists of the authorised representatives of all of the 41 beneficiaries in the GN3plus programme, plus a Chair elected by all of them.
  • Certain executive authority is delegated by the Assembly to an Executive Board, consisting of several elected members of the Assembly. The Board acts as the supervisory body for the execution of the project, reports to and is accountable to the Partners’ Assembly.

Voice of the user representation

Two Advisory Committees have been established to ensure users’ views, and the expertise of senior industry and service providers, are channelled directly to the GN3plus Partners’ Assembly. 

  • The main role for the International User Advisory Committee is to interact with the GN3plus Partners’ Assembly, providing an international user perspective to assist with the development of policy and practice.
    Membership of the IUAC encompasses up to 12 external experts who are important members of international research project teams or leaders of international research organisations.
  • The External Advisory Committee’s principal role is to act as a “critical friend”, lending support and advice to the GN3plus Assembly, providing an external perspective to assist in the development of policy and practice.
    Membership of the EAC comprises up to five external experts who are leaders or senior managers in their respective areas, with extensive and relevant skills and experience.

​An example of the valuable work performed by the EAC is the White Paper on the Structure of GÉANT Research and Development which was produced in January 2015, providing the GN3plus Assembly with the EAC’s views on the structure of the GÉANT programme. Click here to download the White Paper.

 

Specialist Policy Working Groups

There are specific committees tasked with developing policy and guidance for the Partners’ Assembly on key aspects of the project.

  • The Cost-Sharing Working Group looks at the cost elements of GÉANT services and, from time to time, proposes to the Assembly how these costs could be shared.
  • The role of the Strategy and Innovation Committee is to develop a long-term vision, strategy and innovation agenda for GÉANT.

Operational Management

GÉANT’s mission is to deliver a world-class network and services to the highest levels of operational excellence, to Research and Education (R&E) communities within Europe and beyond.

  • The day-to-day operational management of the project is performed by two Project Managers (General Managers of DANTE, the managing partner) who are responsible for the coordination of the different Activities, and supported by the Project Management Office in the administration of the project.