GEORGIAN RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL NETWORKING ASSOCIATION

Their core work

GRENA is Georgia's national research and education network (NREN), responsible for building and operating the digital infrastructure that connects Georgian universities, research institutes, and scientific communities to each other and to global research networks. They are the Georgian node in the pan-European GÉANT network, ensuring Georgian researchers have high-speed, secure connectivity to European e-infrastructures. Beyond connectivity, GRENA supports open science adoption, data management practices, and the integration of Georgian research into the European Open Science Cloud ecosystem.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

GRENA's early H2020 work (2015–2018) centered on domain-specific virtual research environments covering life sciences, climatology, and cultural heritage data management through VI-SEEM, alongside foundational GÉANT participation. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward network infrastructure — multi-domain networking, secure communications, and trust frameworks — while also embracing open science governance through NI4OS-Europe. The trajectory shows a move from being a user of e-infrastructure toward becoming an active builder and policy contributor for European research connectivity.

GRENA is positioning itself as a gateway for integrating South Caucasus research communities into European digital infrastructure and open science frameworks.

How they like to work

GRENA operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a national NREN joining large-scale pan-European infrastructure projects. With 62 unique partners across 41 countries, they work in very large consortia (typical for GÉANT and EOSC-related projects). This means they are experienced in operating within complex, multi-national governance structures but are not the ones driving project design — they contribute their national node and regional expertise.

Remarkably broad network for a Georgian organization: 62 partners across 41 countries, driven primarily by the GÉANT consortium which connects nearly every European NREN. Their network spans from Western Europe to Latin America (via BELLA-S1) and Southeast Europe/Eastern Mediterranean (via VI-SEEM).

What sets them apart

GRENA is the only Georgian NREN in the H2020 landscape, making them the essential partner for any project requiring research connectivity in the South Caucasus region. Their participation in both GÉANT and NI4OS-Europe means they understand both the technical infrastructure and the policy frameworks for integrating non-EU countries into European research systems. For consortium builders targeting geographic inclusiveness or Eastern Partnership engagement, GRENA is a natural and experienced partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GN4-3
  Largest funded project (EUR 169,778) — the flagship European research networking initiative connecting 40+ NRENs across Europe.
• NI4OS-Europe
  Focused on bringing national open science initiatives into the EOSC ecosystem, directly relevant to Georgia's integration into European research governance.
• BELLA-S1
  Extended research networking beyond Europe to Latin America, demonstrating GRENA's involvement in truly global connectivity infrastructure.