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HP Partners with UNESCO to Provide Grid Computing Access to Eastern European Universities
Joint project contributes to improve scientific research in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro
GENEVA, Oct. 21, 2003
HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced a joint initiative with UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to improve scientific research in southeastern Europe by providing grid computing technology to four universities.
The initiative, which will be implemented over a two-year period through HP's University Relations and Philanthropy and Education programs, will help enable the universities to harness the power of grid computing.
HP's contribution includes:
· the donation and installation of Itanium®-based HP Integrity servers and additional grid enabling technologies;
· ongoing technical support and project development by HP personnel;
· training sessions and seminars; and
· on the ground participation on program implementation.
Staff and students are expected to be able to interact with the international scientific community by working on major collaborative research projects with other universities around the world. As a result, University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), University of Split (Croatia), University of Belgrade and University of Podgorica (Serbia and Montenegro) would be able to bid for public and private sector funded research projects. The project also is expected to help encourage scientists to remain in the area to continue their research.
"HP has been working with international organizations and communities around the world to promote economic development through relevant use of technology," said Wayne Johnson, worldwide director of University Relations, HP. "The UNESCO project complements these efforts, and we look forward to leveraging our 30-year presence in Eastern Europe and our expertise in grid computing technology with these universities."
UNESCO's Director-General, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, recently emphasized the importance of new partnerships, such as the HP and UNESCO cooperation. The promotion of linkages and dialogue through which private and corporate entities can contribute to peace and development has become a priority of UNESCO.
The joint UNESCO and HP project - "Piloting Solutions for Alleviating Brain Drain in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro" - addresses the need for urgent action to assist reconstruction processes in southeast European countries affected by conflicts.
According to UNESCO reports, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been particularly affected by mass emigration of young intellectuals, not only during the war but also following the signing of the Peace Agreement in 1996. This has deprived the country of essential human capital and similar trends can also be noted in Serbia and Montenegro as well as Croatia.
HP and the grid
Grid computing is a hardware and software infrastructure that clusters and integrates high-end computer networks, databases and scientific instruments from multiple sources to form a virtual "supercomputer" on which users can work collaboratively. The grid concept was formally developed in the mid-1990s as a shared computing approach that coordinates decentralised resources and uses open, general-purpose protocols and interfaces to deliver high-quality service levels.
The grid is designed to render almost anything in IT - computers, processing power, data, Web services, storage space, software applications, data files or devices - as a "grid service."
Additional information about HP's grid initiative is available at http://www.hp.com/techservers/grid/index.html.
HP in education and philanthropy
HP engages with the higher education community and leading academic institutions in many ways. From research interaction and student recruitment, to customer relationships and policy advocacy, HP cultivates close relationships with its academic partners and aligns trends in education with the company's technology and business directions.
HP's philanthropic investments combine the power of information technology with creative and effective partnerships to create economic and social value for underserved communities around the world. HP engages in public/private partnerships to invest in underserved communities to help bridge the digital divide.
HP's goal is to help close the gap between technology-empowered and technology-excluded communities worldwide through "e-inclusion," HP's vision of a future in which all people have access to the social and economic opportunities of the 21st century and can use technology as a means to learn, work and thrive.
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing for consumers, enterprises and small and medium businesses. For the last four quarters, HP revenue totaled $71.3 billion. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
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