FP6 IST Broadband for all Network of Excellence Project 001933 e-Photon

1. FP6 IST �Broadband for all� Network of Excellence Project 001933 e-Photon/ONe �Optical Networks: Towards Bandwidth Manageability and Cost Efficiency� COST 279 Final Seminar Lisbon, June 29th, 2005

2. FP6 Instruments Generation, demonstration and validation of new knowledge through research and development Integrated Projects (IPs; ~10M�) Specific Tergeted Research Projects (STRePs; ~2M�) Durable integration of the participants� activities and capacities Networks of Excellence (NoEs; ~7M�) Support to collaboration and coordination, and to other activities Coordination Actions (CAs; ~1M�) Specific Support Actions (SSAs; ~0.5M�)

3. 6FP First IST Call Costly paperwork and proposal preparation Relatively little funding to ICT Strong competition among several NoEs and IPs for strategic objective �Broadband for All� The ranking of e-Photon/ONe was 22/25 (best in �Broadband for all� among NoEs and IPs) The EC proposed (and final) grant was 2.9 M? for 2 years � ?

4. What is a Network of Excellence? From Marimon report on EC IST projects: �Networks of Excellence should be designed as an instrument to cover different forms of collaboration and different sizes of partnerships� Difficulties: Consensus in the selection of a small number of excellent partners to build a NoE Durable integration across a large number of NoE partners Preferred approach Provide various levels of integration in a large trans-national network with a significant consensus in the scientific community The participation of institutions not belonging to the consortium may be allowed considering different models of involvement e-Photon/ONe aims at �integrating and focusing the rich know-how available in Europe on optical communication and networks, both in universities and in research centres of major telecom manufacturers and operators� using the following structure: strong integration of a core membership (WP leaders) active involvement of all partners in the NoE involvement of external institutions (�Collaborating Institutions�)

5. Consortium composition - I Politecnico di Torino, Italy Universit� di Bologna, Italy Politecnico di Milano, Italy Fondazione Ugo Bordoni, Rome, Italy Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy INTEC - Ghent University - IMEC, Gent, Belgium Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands Facult� Polytechnique de Mons, Mons, Belgium COM - Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark Kista Photonics Research Centre, Kista, Sweden Fraunhofer Gesellschaft - Heinrich Hertz Institute, Germany Duisburg University, Germany University of Stuttgart - Institute of Communication Networks and Computer Engineering, Germany Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany Vienna University of Technology, Austria Groupe des Ecoles de Telecommunications, France

6. Consortium composition - II University of Essex, UK University College London (UCL), London, UK University of Cambridge, UK University of Southampton, UK Universitat Polit�cnica de Catalunya, Spain Universdad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain Universidad P�blica de Navarra, Spain Polytecnic of Valencia, Spain Instituto de Telecomunica��es, Aveiro, Portugal National Technical University of Athens, Greece University of Athens, Greece University of Patras, Greece Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia University of Mining and Metallurgy (AGH), Poland

7. Consortium composition - III [Industrial partners] Telef�nica Investigaci�n y Desarrollo, Spain T-Systems Nova GmbH, Germany Siemens, Germany Telenor R&D, Oslo, Norway France Telecom, France Alcatel R&I, France 38 partner institutions: 32 academic institutions 4 telecom operators 2 manufacturers with broad European coverage (from Portugal to Turkey) ~400 researchers actively involved in the NoE Coordinator: Fabio Neri (Politecnico di Torino)

8. Some comments A large number of partners raises project management issues The EC grant must be efficiently utilized A strong and well-defined project structure is required Hierarchy of responsibilities Several committees and boards to steer and promote activities Efficient project office NoEs bring new and �unusual� goals EC grant not for funding individual research Partners must learn to work towards �integration� Results should come in the medium to long term But the e-Photon/ONe duration was cut from 5 to 2 years raising issues on effectiveness of the activities downsizing of final objectives

9. Funding limited to two years Same for all IPs and NoEs in Broadband for All Two years is too short; several activities require a longer time span (e.g., PhD students should be financed for three years) The project will have to stop its activities at the end of the initial warm-up transient Limiting NoEs to two years appears as a symptom of little trust from the Commission in this new instrument A significant part of the 2nd year was devoted to writing a new proposal

10. Objectives of e-Photon/ONe e-Photon/ONe is focused on optical networks Its main goals are: integrate and focus the rich technical know-how available in Europe on optical networking favour a consensus on the engineering choices towards the deployment of optical networks understand how to exploit the unique characteristics of the optical domain for networking applications promote and organize activities to disseminate knowledge on optical networks

11. Broad technical topics list - I End-to-end performance and QoS management in optical burst switched (OBS) networks optical packet switched (OPS) networks optical metro networks Design of resilience mechanisms in optical metro and backbone networks Design of wavelength routing mechanisms in optical networks Differentiated reliability in a GMPLS hierarchical optical network Architectures and protocols for metro and access networks New services and applications in optical networks QoS optical-routing and traffic scheduling in edge nodes

12. Broad technical topics list - II Assessment of the feasibility and performance of Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols (including signalling, matching, scheduling and buffering requirements) for optical metro and access networks Optical packet/circuit switching architectures Interfacing issues between photonic and electronic domains, with a view to simplifying the core network Transmission techniques for core and metro networks (including new modulation formats, robust amplification, signal monitoring techniques, ...) Assessment and comparison of system options such as fiber-wireless, FTTH, fiber-coax, wireless optics, ... for access and in-building networks Assessment and comparison of physical options for optical packet switching

13. Joint Program of Activities (JPA) The JPA provides a description of the broad scope of the NoE For e-Photon/ONe it was planned for a 5-years time span, and it is articulated into 15 WorkPackages (WPs) JPA activities are classified into four categories: Integrating activities Joint research activities Spreading of excellence activities Management activities

14. Activities in the JPA Integrating activities A1.1 Coordination of research A1.2 Researcher and student mobility A1.3 Knowledge and innovation management A1.4 Integrated dissemination A1.5 Sharing research facilities A1.6 Educational programs Joint research activities A2.1 Virtual Department 1: �Core networks: technologies, architectures and protocols� A2.2 Virtual Department 2: �Metro and access networks: technologies, architectures and protocols� A2.3 Virtual Department 3: �Home networks and other short-reach networks� A2.4 Virtual Department 4: �Optical switching systems� A2.5 Virtual Department 5: �Transmission techniques for broadband networks� Spreading of excellence activities A3.1 On-line dissemination A3.2 Publications and conferences A3.3 External relations A3.4 Schools and continuing education A3.5 Hosting students and researchers Management activities A4.1 Management of the technical bodies A4.2 Management of governing bodies

15. Integration goals Strengthen contacts between partners Focus research on optical networking Stimulate exchanges of researchers and lecturers Support knowledge management and circulation of information Sharing of research topics and activities Sharing of lab infrastructures Develop common educational programs Support innovation management

16. Virtual Departments Integration activities were organized in thematic structures called Virtual Departments (VDs) Viewing e-Photon/ONe as a large virtual European research structure (e.g. a university), it is possible to envisage different departments to which people affiliate according to topics. Departments have chairpersons who decide on the activities and the internal organization. People of a department do research, but also organize projects, interact with people external to the departments, have teaching activities etc.

17. Major technical areas in optical networks Wavelength routing (core) networks Exploit large bandwidth on fiber links Reduce time-domain operations, buffering requirements, and information processing Innovative architectures for metro and access Broadcast-and-select networks WDM rings PONs Home and short-reach networks Low cost Easy deployment Optics in switching and optical switching Large switching fabrics Lower footprint and power requirements Optical transmission Improving the best Higher manageability

19. Virtual Departments VD1 (F. Callegati): �Core Networks: Technologies, Architectures, and Protocols� VD2 (E. Zouganeli): �Metro and Access Networks: Technologies, Architectures, and Protocols� VD3 (D. J�ger): �Home Networks and Other Short-Reach Networks� VD4 (L. Dittman): �Optical Switching Systems� VD5 (P. Poggiolini): �Transmission Techniques for Broadband Networks�

20. Joint Projects Although it is stated that funding research is not a primary goal of a NoE (!), four joint research projects (JPs) have been defined, so that the different partners can work together towards a few common goals JPs are specific, short-term research activities, that may involve people from a single or multiple departments, just like the many research projects in which university staff people are often involved JPs are serving as an important step toward integration inside the NoE, providing to a large number of partners an opportunity for interaction and accomplishment of common goals Research activities in JPs are decided and coordinated by WP leaders

21. Joint Projects JP1 (A. Stavdas): �New designs for optical packet switching nodes�. It aims both at designing optical switching devices (OXCs, optical packet switches), and at identifying the role of optics in traditional packet/circuit switches (e.g., switching fabrics in IP routers, or optical backplanes) JP2 (T. Koonen): �Flexible broadband fiber in the loop networks and in home networks�, including fiber in the access and FTTH, hybrid fiber-wireless and fiber-coax, very-low-cost optics, plastic fibers, wireless optics JP3 (M. Pickavet): �Protocols for the control plane in WDM core networks� (ASONs, G-MPLS, etc.) JP4 (R. Killey): �Robust transmission techniques for core and metro networks�

22. Spreading excellence activities Dissemination activities: it is important to convert the international reputation of individual partners in a quality label for the network Training activities must help improve the skills and knowledge of the future young workforce and indirectly help to establish a competitive and knowledge economy

23. Training The NoE aims to establish a significant influence on the training in the area of optical communication Initiatives will be taken to complement the currently on-going uniformisation of the university degrees within Europe, in the framework of the Sorbonne-Bologna declarations, and specific attention will be paid to improvements of the quality Specific objectives: improve and uniformize the undergraduate and graduate programs in the domain of optical communication throughout Europe draw guidelines for the curricula and, in particular for degrees in electrical and/or telecommunications engineering, as well as photonics to improve the PhD training, a.o. by including hands-on training in a broader field to organize specialized post-graduate programs for PhD students, post-docs and industrial researchers and technicians

24. 15 WorkPackages WP1 (VD on Core Networks): F. Callegati � DEIS-UniBo WP2 (VD on Metro and Access Networks): E. Zouganeli � Telenor WP3 (VD on Home and Other Short-Reach Networks): D. Jaeger - UniDu WP4 (VD on Optical Switching Systems): L. Dittman � DTU WP5 (VD on Transmission): P. Poggiolini � PoliTO WP6 (NoE Management): L. Fulci � PoliTO WP7 (JP on Optical Switches): A. Stavdas � NTUA WP8 (JP on Reconfigurable Access): T. Koonen � Tu/E WP9 (JP on Protocols for WDM Network): M. Pickavet � UGent WP10 (JP on Robust Transmission): R. Killey � UCL WP11 (Mobility): G. Morthier � UGent WP12 (Teaching Activities): B. Mikac � TELFER WP13 (Joint Laboratories): A. Seeds � UCL WP14 (Dissemination): M. O�Mahony � UEssex WP15 (International Collaborations): S. Tomic � TUW

25. Internal e-Photon/ONe organization Coordinator: Fabio Neri Steering Committee Management and Administrative Board and Project Office @ Polito JPA Committee, comprising the following boards: Integrating Activities Board Joint Research Project Board Exchange and Mobility Board Dissemination and Training Board and panels: Gender Issue Panel Socio-economic Panel Innovation and IPR Panel Ethical Issues Panel Quality Assurance Committee Partners grouped in geographical areas with Area Administrative Leaders

26. e-Photon/ONe organization

27. Project management and administration The Project Office was established at Politecnico di Torino to deal with project management and administrative issues (two full-time persons) The Consortium Agreement was negotiated and signed Difficult integration of diffrent rules in different countries for cost eligibility Quarterly (!) Management Reports were prepared and submitted to the European Commission The role of Collaborating Institutions, participating to e-Photon/One with no budget allocation, was established, and several application were received (this is a recognition of the project quality)

28. Some achievements e-Photon/ONe web site: http://www.e-photon-one.org Support to the organization of conferences, including ONDM, and ECOC Workshop presenting e-Photon/ONe to the international community at ECOC in Stockholm (Sweden) on September 7th, 2004 Events and workshops at NOC (Holland), OECC (Japan), WOBS/Broadnets (USA), Broadband Summit (Belgium), and others Links with the IEEE Optical Networks Technical Committee (ONTC); joint organization with NSF and COST of workshop on research directions Europe-USA technical collaboration (June 2005 n Brussels) Several members of e-Photon/ONe are in the editorial board of the new Elsevier journal �Optical Switching and Networking (OSN) Interactions with Global Grid Forum on Optical Burst Switching standards Two technical schools (one in Mons in September 2004, and one in Aveiro in February 2005); next school in Summer 2005 in Cesenatico Several personnel exchanges took place in the framework of mobility actions. Around 25 such events involved mainly PhD students for extended periods An effort towards integration of lab activities and sharing of lab infrastructures lead to an inventory of existing labs and to a plan for coordinated lab experiments

29. Research directions and challanges More packets in networks, more circuits in the optical domain (Dynamic) connection-oriented operation; lot of work on control plane functionalities Large attention to (new architectures for) the access segment; G-PONs, E-PONs More optics in traditional switching devices New design criteria: bandwidth cost no longer an issue � cost of switching more important QoS requirements do not scale with packet duration: no need for reconfiguration in the ns scale Consider non-traditional application domains: Home networks Vehicle networks Unclear evolution towards higher data rates (40 and 100 Gb/s): 2.5 Gb/s best transmission compromise

30. Uneven partner involvement Limited involvement of industrial partners Also limited initial involvement of some academic partners WP leaders monitor the involvement of partners in their WP The Technical Annex assumes full transfer of EC funds only upon verification of active participation: EC contribution may be reduced in proportion to the costs claimed and accepted for the first annual report Adjusting the budget subdivision to actual activities and involvement in the integration process proved to be effective, but increases management costs

31. Collaborating Institutions At the kickoff meeting it was decided not to enlarge the consortium, but to establish the role of �Collaborating Institution�, with no budget allocation full participation to the project It is an interesting approach to have a consortium �evolving� with time and a recognition of the quality of e-Photon/ONe Current Collaborating Institutions: Intel Cambridge, UK (Madeleine Glick) Multitel, Mons, Belgium (Augustin Grillet) Athens Information and Technology Center, Greece (Ioannis Tomkos) Beijing University of Posts & Telegraphs, China (Jian Wu) Fujitsu Labs Europe, UK (Michael Parker) Campinas State University, Brazil (Helio Waldman)

32. Comments after one project year Advantages of NoEs: Research and personal integration in the European scientific community International visibility Cooperation with the European international leadership in specific technical areas (optical networks for e-Photon/ONe), and with Japan, USA, Canada, China, Korea Possible alliances for setting up consortia towards other forms of research funding

33. Comments after one project year Consortium size: Difficult to build small consortia Large consortia difficult to coordinate (~5K emails in my mailbox; response times with very large variance; meetings become conferences; etc.) Intellectual Property Right issues difficult to handle (in particular for industrial partners, but also between different projects) The allocated budget is too small for industries to participate: the involvement of industries and SMEs in FP6 has been limited (industries participation in IST reduced from 55% to 29%) The funding period was really too short for an NoE: will we have durable integration effects?

34. Comments after one project year Project management: Large management effort Difficult interaction with the EC Sixth Framework Programme rules not clear from the beginning (and unknown or obscure to participating institutions) Large paperwork overhead (61 deliverables, quarterly reports, and heavy annual reports and reviews) No real administrative autonomy: very detailed reporting to the Commission still requested The AC model (used by most universities) is not appropriate for NoEs Co-existence of AC and FC models leads to administrative problems

35. Conclusions (1) Exploiting the NoE instrument is not trivial Consortium size ? Small consortium likely misses significant players and has no consensus in the research community Big consortium raises management issues The project management architecture is a cornerstone to achieve tangible results The Virtual Department concept is the e-Photon/ONe answer to the coordination of research issue Budget and funding period must be adequate New proposal e-Photon/ONe+ to overcome the 2-years limit

36. Conclusions (2) VDs had a slow start After one year, results are beginning to emerge Partners have got to know one another a lot better: Mutual knowledge of fields of expertise and areas of excellence Mutual knowledge of group layouts and major laboratory infrastructure Integration is truly taking place Formal and informal collaborations have actually started among several partners Actions towards the 4th FP6 calls coordinated Consensus on key issues being formed common papers being written and plans for building common teaching material The pace towards integration is still uneven among VDs

37. More in www.e-photon-one.org

38. Different views �