Big Grid Computing and Data Facilities

Overall goal of this programme is to facilitate scientific research through access to advanced ICT research infrastructures. Specifically, this programme grants access to the grid infrastructure as set up by the BiG Grid project, and is typically meant for those researchers who are conducting e-science in their research.

Researchers can apply for access to grid infrastructures like compute clusters (computing time), data storage facilities, supported by grid middleware and software. Human support can be applied for as well, but is not discussed in the programme brochure.

Who can apply

Grants can be applied for by researchers of organisations which are eligible for subsidy from NWO, like Dutch universities or institutes under the umbrella of NWO or KNAW. Other institutes, for which arrangements need to be in place, may be eligible as well (for more info see the programme brochure).

What can be applied for

• Access to compute clusters:
  BiG Grid arranges access to compute clusters which are accessible through BiG Grid and/or NCF. These are compute clusters which have been acquired with BiG Grid and/or NCF funds.
• Access to data storage facilities:
  BiG Grid arranges access to data storage facilities which are accessible through BiG Grid and/or NCF. These are data storage facilities which have been acquired with BiG Grid and/or NCF funds.

The following types of applications are distinguished:

• Pilot projects
• Individual projects
• VO projects
• Units 

For more detailed information: see the programme brochure.

When can be applied

Applications can be submitted throughout the year.

Extra Information

For more information see:

• BiG Grid website (www.biggrid.nl)
• NCF website (www.nwo.nl/ncf)
• Nikhef website (www.nikhef.nl)
• NBIC website (www.nbic.nl)

Criteria

• Small requests (less than 5000 core hours compute time and/or 10 TB of data storage) will be granted access as pilot projects, with the restriction that straightforward computing time requests may be forwarded to the regular NCF compute facilities Huygens and/or Lisa;
• Larger projects will be discussed within the Allocation Committee of the BiG Grid project. If needed, independent referees will be asked for their opinion.

For larger than pilot projects, the Allocation Committee considers the following criteria:

• Can the project be run on resources which are locally available to the user?
• Does the applicant belong to a VO which is already using the BiG Grid infrastructure?
• Apart from CPU time and/or storage, will the request need specific middleware/software?

If not, then the applicant may be forwarded to the regular NCF compute facilities Huygens and/or Lisa.

In case the Allocation Committee has asked for independent referee reports, these reports will always be sent to the applicant, if needed with a request for rebuttal by the applicant.

The Allocation Committee will always study annual reports on the progress of the research outlined in the granted proposals, including the usage of the BiG Grid infrrastructure resources.

In case of large proposals, and if needed, applicants may be asked to clarify their proposal to the Allocation Committee.

Procedure

Requests for access to the BiG Grid infrastructure are distributed to each member of the Allocation Committee. Automatically, each request for access to the BiG Grid infrastructure will be put on the agenda of the next BiG Grid Allocation Committee meeting and will be discussed there.

The applicant will receive notification of the Allocation Committee decision on granting his or her application. This will be done in a granting letter. Grants are valid for one year and are subject to the aforementioned criteria.

Committees

Currently, the BiG Grid Executive Team (ET) handles the requests for access to the BiG Grid infrastructure, if needed through consulting independent referees. The BiG Grid management has mandated the ET to act as the Allocation Committee, and will be informed on requests on a regular basis. This procedure has been chosen since the BiG Grid infrastructure is in the early process of being set up. Over time, the procedure will evolve into a peer review process with an Allocation Committee which is separated from the ET.

Budget

The actual budget can not be specified in euros. BiG Grid aims to facilitate scientific research through access to large compute and data storage facilities. These facilities will be acquired in the BiG Grid project, including running costs.

Contacts

• Dias, A.B. (Ana Bela), Dr. ir.
  phone: +31(0)70 344 0583, fax: +31(0)70 344 0946, e-mail: a.dias@nwo.nl

no documentation available