- New projects related to cloud and ‘internet of things’ were announced at Cloudscape Brazil 2015 conference on 1-2 December.
- User communities behind the EUBrazilCloudConnect project showcased their results on epidemiology, biodiversity, and medical informatics tools.
- The importance of collaboration between Brazil and Europe was underlined.
Building the ‘digital single market’ means revitalizing European industry with a strong focus on cloud computing and the data economy. However, we still need to invest in cloud technology to fully realize its benefits. This involves working towards common understanding of best practices, particularly in terms of security and data protection, so as to build much-needed trust and confidence in cloud services. An open, international dialogue with all relevant stakeholders is critical for building consensus and shaping the practical steps necessary to overcome the existing barriers to cloud adoption faced by businesses, public organizations, researchers, and consumers.
Cloudscape Brazil 2015, held on 1-2 December, was an ideal forum for taking stock of progress to date. With the European Commission and the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology making joint investments of €5m (~$5.5m) in two cloud-computing projects, as well as €4,5M (~$4.9m) in three internet-of-things pilot projects, the event was a unique opportunity to see how common priorities will shape the future of these technologies. Open data, open platform, and open science will all play a key role in future technologies.
The three user communities behind the EUBrazilCloudConnect project showcased their results on epidemiology, biodiversity, and medical informatics tools, as well as plans to sustain these scientific applications after project funding ends in early 2016.
The team behind the Leishmaniasis Virtual Lab (LVL) showcased the open, collaborative research environment for the molecular surveillance of leishmania and their vectors. Interaction with the technical leishmaniasis group of the Brazilian Department of Health has led to further discussions on potential wider deployment of the tools in Brazil.
“Brazil is a major Latin-American player in research disciplines such as biodiversity, epidemiology, and social data analysis, which strongly benefit from cloud technologies,” says Ignacio Blanquer, European coordinator of the EUBrazilCloudConnect project. “Liaisons with Brazilian institutions can open the door for many research and business opportunities in Latin America.”
New business opportunities and innovation
Cloudscape Brazil was also a great place to learn how companies of all sizes are innovating using cloud and big-data technologies. Applications were presented relating to traffic prediction, chemical engineering, and mineral processing, cancer research, and more.
Cloudscape 2016
Cloud computing features in several areas in Europe’s strategy for the Digital Single Market, alongside the ‘internet of things’ and big data. Cloud is seen as a key enabler for other goals, as well as better digital access, digital infrastructure, and a stronger digital economy. The Cloudscape 2016 event in Brussels, Belgium, asks where do we stand today, what lessons have we learned that are essential for new developments, and how can the cloud enable the development and future deployment of the internet of things? Find out more about the event, which will take place on 8-9 March, here.
At the event, six Brazilian SMEs competed to give the best pitch addressing IT solutions in the ‘XaaS’ (‘everything as a service’) world, thus highlighting Brazil’s growing ICT economy and strong focus on open source. The contest, which was moderated by Cedric Thomas of OW2, was won by Guilherme Maluf Balzana, director of Anolis IT. Anolis is working to create a secure, resilient software-defined storage service for academic researchers.
Growing collaboration
Another exciting feature of Cloudscape Brazil was the session on new EU-Brazil collaborative projects starting in January 2016. SECURECLOUD, EUBra-BIGSEA, EUBrasilCloudForum, HPC4E, and Futebol presented their ambitious plans to advance cloud, high-performance computing, and future internet technologies through a collaborative research environment across Europe and Brazil. These projects all share the common goals of knowledge transfer and sustainability to ensure return on investment.
The EUBrasilCloudForum will organize Cloudscape Brazil 2016 and 2017, offering all the EU-Brazil collaborative projects an ideal opportunity for checking progress, emphasizing impacts on markets. These future events will offer excellent networking opportunities, helping to meet the common policy goals of the European Commission and the Brazilian Ministry of Technology in terms of high-level cooperation and developing fruitful synergies between these initiatives.
Read more about Cloudscape Brazil 2015 on the event website.
