Internet2 (I2) issued a brief announcement yesterday that Google had joined its community. The move is interesting in that it is more evidence of efforts by the big hyperscalers – AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google – to forge links with and serve the HPC community. Among Google’s goals are gaining access to Internet2 community development efforts on machine learning and big data analytics and to attract I2 members to build, test and deploy applications on the Google cloud.
There were few details in the announcement although Internet2 now has a web page where its members can suggest projects. Internet2, of course, is a nonprofit consortium working to drive advanced networking technology as well as providing the nation’s largest and fastest, coast-to-coast research and education (R&E) network. I2 also operates trust, identity and cloud service programs.
Currently, there are about 300 higher education institutions in the I2 community along with a growing slate of commercial and government members. According to the release, Google plans to work with Internet2 and its member institutions to explore higher education technology opportunities with Google Cloud Platform.
“We see Google Cloud Platform’s involvement as an ideal way to further engage the community in deep conversations about next generation services and technologies,” said Shel Waggener, senior vice president, Internet2. “Through community input, we hope to identify projects that can help meet the needs of the higher education’s community in the areas of data analytics and machine learning technologies, using Google’s cloud tools.”
Link to release: http://www.internet2.edu/news/detail/12351/