QENDREN NDERINSTITUCIONALE TE RRJETI AKADEMIK SHQIPTAR

Their core work

RASH is Albania's national research and education network (NREN), responsible for providing internet connectivity and digital infrastructure to universities and research institutions across the country. They operate the backbone network that connects Albanian academia to the pan-European GÉANT research network, enabling Albanian researchers to collaborate with peers across Europe and beyond. More recently, they have taken on a role in bringing Albania into the European Open Science Cloud ecosystem, helping the country adopt open science practices and integrate with EU-wide e-infrastructure services.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 participation (2015–2016), RASH focused on basic research connectivity and intercontinental network infrastructure, including transatlantic submarine cable links and spectrum allocation through projects like BELLA-S1 and early GÉANT phases. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward open science ecosystems, e-infrastructure governance, secure multi-domain networking, and bridging the digital divide within Europe. This evolution mirrors Albania's broader push to integrate with EU digital and scientific infrastructure rather than simply consuming bandwidth.

RASH is moving from passive network participation toward active governance and service provision within the European Open Science Cloud, making them increasingly relevant for projects requiring Western Balkans digital inclusion.

How they like to work

RASH participates exclusively as a partner — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for NRENs from smaller EU-associated countries that join large infrastructure consortia. Their 55 unique partners across 39 countries reflect the massive GÉANT and NI4OS-Europe consortia rather than independently built relationships. This means they are experienced in operating within very large, well-structured project frameworks but may have limited capacity for leading smaller, targeted collaborations.

Through GÉANT and NI4OS-Europe, RASH connects with 55 partners across 39 countries — essentially the entire European research networking community. Their network is broad but consortium-driven, reflecting the pan-European NREN ecosystem rather than independently cultivated partnerships.

What sets them apart

RASH is the sole gateway for connecting Albanian research institutions to European digital infrastructure, making them an essential partner for any project requiring Western Balkans coverage or digital inclusiveness. Their NI4OS-Europe involvement gives them direct experience with onboarding non-EU countries into the EOSC ecosystem. For consortium builders needing geographic breadth or Widening Country participation, RASH offers both the network infrastructure and the institutional mandate to deliver.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NI4OS-Europe
  Their largest funded project (EUR 124,688), focused on integrating national open science initiatives into the European Open Science Cloud — represents their strategic direction.
• BELLA-S1
  Unusual scope for an Albanian NREN: participation in building intercontinental submarine cable connectivity between Europe and Latin America.
• GN4-3
  Part of the flagship GÉANT network serving 50+ million users across European research and education — demonstrates sustained commitment to core NREN mission.