ABOUT SURF
SURF is the collaborative organisation for ICT in Dutch higher education and research. SURF brings together ICT professionals within networks and collaboration projects for knowledge sharing regarding ICT-driven innovation. By making innovations available on attractive conditions and facilitating connections between technology and people, SURF ensures the continued optimal utilisation of the opportunities offered by ICT. Thanks to SURF students, instructors and researchers in the Netherlands have access to the best possible Internet and ICT services.
SURF organisations
SURF consists of four organisations, each responsible for its own field:
- SURFnet
- SURFmarket
- SURFsara
- SURFshare
The innovation activities of the parent organisation SURF are structured within three platforms:
- Platform Board ICT & Education (focus area Innovation in Education)
- Platform Board ICT & Research (focus areas Scholarly Communication and Digital Rights)
- Platform Board ICT & Business Management (focus areas Organising with ICT, Security and privacy, Cloud computing and Green ICT)
Collaboration
In 2010, SURF and the country’s principal science funding body NWO joined together to found a new institute, the Netherlands eScience Center. As of 1 January 2011 SURF merged with SARA foundation and became the owner of market party Vancis. SURF collaborates with a large number of foreign partners in order to share knowledge and benefit from scale advantages.
Strategic themes at SURF
Based on the relevant developments in ICT, education and research, SURF groups its activities according to a number of strategic themes:
- Innovation in Education
- Scholarly Communication
- Digital Rights
- Organising with ICT
- Cloud Computing
- Green ICT and Sustainability
- Network Infrastructure
- Collaboration Infrastructure
- Security and Privacy
With these themes, SURF is keying into current trends in the field of ICT, education, and research.