International cooperation
SURF recognises the importance of international collaboration. SURF intends not only to retain the Dutch lead in the field of ICT, but also to contribute to a technological and organisational infrastructure for European education and research. Over the past years SURF has invested heavily in the extension and maintenance of its international network. This network is concentrated around sister organisations within the world of higher education, both within Europe and elsewhere.
In many cases SURFfoundation collaborates closely with international partners. The collaboration with JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee), the SURFfoundations sister organisation in the UK, is the most formalised and concrete. SURFfoundation and JISC engage in intensive collaboration in projects in the field of research and education.
SURFfoundation and JISC together also maintain relations with other European organisations. Knowledge Exchange is an example of a joint initiative. Knowledge Exchange is aimed at developing a coherent policy to improve the ICT facilities and infrastructure within the European higher education community.
Besides a description of the concrete collaboration initiatives, this focus area also provides an overview of the organisations with whom SURFfoundation collaborates, as well as international initiatives that SURFfoundation has joined.