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GRIDS: N.C.'s $10 BILLION MONEY MACHINE

A new North Carolina Grid Computing Initiative will lead the way in ensuring North Carolina's place in the national and international Grid computing evolution. A study sponsored by the Rural Internet Access Authority estimates Grid computing will give a $10 billion economic boost to the state's economy through 2010, leading to an additional 24,000 jobs and $7.2 billion in personal income.

The report was released as a special presentation at the first North Carolina Grid Computing Forum hosted by MCNC's Grid Computing & Networking Services company and the University of North Carolina Office of the President.

The forum launched the North Carolina Grid Computing Initiative, a multi- year, multi-million dollar program to harness the power of Grid computing. Internationally renowned Grid computing experts and more than 100 university faculty and administrators discussed potential Grid computing applications for the state's higher education community. The North Carolina Grid Computing Initiative will include deployment of Grid computing technology using the existing statewide network developed by MCNC and the UNC Office of the President. When complete, North Carolina will be one of the first states in the nation to deploy a statewide computing Grid.

Grid computing is the next evolution of the Internet, providing users with unprecedented computing power, services and information no matter where the resources are located. Grid computing represents a new way to conduct business and research. Much like an electric power Grid provides electricity services, businesses and institutions can tap into computing power and information linked by the Grid throughout the state, nation or even globally as though it was provided by a single supercomputer.

"When businesses or researchers use Grids, they can complete computing- intensive tasks in hours that previously required days," said Dr. Robert B. Cohen, the author of the report and an international expert on the emergence of new Internet technologies. Cohen is president of the Cohen Communications Group and a fellow at the Economic Strategy Institute, a think tank for international trade policy. "Businesses lower costs, get results faster and bring products to market sooner."

Cohen said his projections on the economic boost of Grid computing are based on the state continuing to develop the high-speed Internet and computing infrastructure needed to support Grid computing and develop a sufficient pool of skilled computer and communications professionals. In addition, he called for focused educational efforts to further develop a computer literate workforce that can support supply chain activities such as billing, invoicing, shipping, accounting and financial management.

"This is the most significant upgrade to North Carolina's networking and computing infrastructure in history, and we already have a running start," said MCNC Chief Executive Officer David Rizzo. "MCNC and the 16-campus University of North Carolina have one of the nation's most advanced, high- speed statewide networks to provide the backbone infrastructure for the statewide Grid, and MCNC has committed the money to get started. The research and education Grid will serve as a reference implementation for commercial use, and we'll work with our partners to evaluate future commercial use to enhance economic development throughout the state."

The N.C. Research and Education Network (NCREN), operated by MCNC, will provide the backbone infrastructure for the Grid Computing Initiative. The network connects more than 180 public and private institutions in the state, including universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, libraries, state government and private research institutions. In addition, it provides a high performance Internet gateway to Internet2 and Abilene national research networks -- a link to the world's leading research institutions.

For more than 20 years, NCREN has been a model for other educational and research institutions. MCNC has established an international reputation for deploying leading-edge technologies, including the N.C. BioGrid, to ensure North Carolina has access to cost-effective, advanced computing and communications services. The BioGrid, established in 2001, is a test bed for Grid computing applied for biotechnology research.

MCNC announced in June that it is committing $6 million from the endowment created by the sale of one of its spin-off companies to help develop the North Carolina Grid Computing Initiative over the next three years with the state's higher education community.

"The University of North Carolina Office of the President and MCNC will lead the effort to bring the benefits of Grid computing to all of higher education and will ensure that all organizations throughout the state will have affordable access to Grid resources," said Robyn Render, vice president for information resources and chief information officer of the University of North Carolina. "Grid computing will help level the playing field between the state's largest universities and those around the state that will require advanced computing capabilities in the future."

According to the report, large manufacturers, retailers, financial companies and health care providers already are beginning to implement Grid computing. As commercial use of Grid computing develops, improved efficiency and reduced business costs will be a catalyst for economic expansion and business growth, benefiting industries across multiple sectors, including the state's historic strengths in the apparel, textiles and furniture industries. For North Carolina's small businesses, existing chains and traditional industries -- many of which are located in rural areas and are suppliers to large manufacturers and retail stores -- the very survival of many companies may depend on two factors: the existence of high-speed service and a trained workforce.

"The Rural Internet Access Authority has been working to get high-speed Internet access and training to all parts of North Carolina," said Jane Smith Patterson, executive director. "All companies, rural and urban, including suppliers, dealers and distributors to large retailers and manufacturers, will need to embrace Grid computing to succeed because those larger companies will be fitting them into their supply chain via the Internet. The continued mission of the Rural Internet Access Authority will be to advocate for extending Grid computing services through high-speed Internet access throughout the state, especially in rural areas, and to assist in the training of a workforce proficient in utilizing computing technologies."

Adds Rizzo, "North Carolina is poised to lead the way for Grid computing. The Internet enables computers to communicate with each other. Grid enables computers to work together. The North Carolina Grid Computing Initiative will provide a significant economic and competitive advantage for the state's business, education and government communities."