SURF BV

Their core work

SURF is the Dutch national organization for ICT infrastructure in education and research, providing high-performance computing, networking, cloud services, and data management to universities and research institutions across the Netherlands. They operate and integrate shared e-infrastructures — from supercomputers to identity management systems — enabling researchers to store, process, and share data at scale. Within H2020, SURF contributes operational expertise in deploying pan-European research infrastructure services, particularly around the GÉANT network, EOSC ecosystem, and PRACE HPC facilities. Their work sits at the intersection of infrastructure operations and policy: making Open Science and FAIR data principles technically feasible across disciplines.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2017), SURF focused on foundational e-infrastructure building blocks: HPC via PRACE, data management via EUDAT, open data principles, bioinformatics support through ELIXIR, and federated identity through AARC. From 2018 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward the EOSC ecosystem, FAIR data operationalization, large-scale research networking (GÉANT), and cybersecurity — reflecting the EU's own infrastructure policy trajectory. The emergence of quantum internet (QIA) and European processor (EPI) projects in 2018–2019 suggests SURF is positioning itself for the next generation of research computing infrastructure.

SURF is moving from operating individual infrastructure components toward integrating pan-European research cloud and networking services, with early investments in quantum and European processor technologies signaling preparation for post-2025 computing paradigms.

How they like to work

SURF never coordinates H2020 projects — they consistently join as a participant or third party in large-scale infrastructure consortia, which is typical for national research ICT organizations whose role is to contribute operational capacity rather than set research agendas. With 602 unique partners across 64 countries, they are a high-connectivity hub embedded in virtually every major European e-infrastructure initiative. This makes them an exceptionally well-connected partner: collaborating with SURF means indirect access to the full European research infrastructure ecosystem.

SURF has collaborated with 602 unique partners across 64 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected e-infrastructure organizations in Europe. Their network spans all major NRENs, HPC centers, data infrastructure providers, and research institutions — a natural result of sustained participation in pan-European flagship projects like GÉANT, PRACE, and EOSC.

What sets them apart

SURF occupies a rare position as a national e-infrastructure provider that is deeply embedded in nearly every major European research infrastructure initiative simultaneously — networking (GÉANT), computing (PRACE), data (EUDAT/EOSC), identity (AARC), and now quantum (QIA). Unlike commercial cloud providers, they operate with a public-interest mandate for the Dutch research community while maintaining the technical depth to contribute meaningfully to EU-scale service integration. For consortium builders, SURF brings both infrastructure capacity and a proven track record of delivering operational services within complex multi-partner projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EOSC-hub
  Their highest-funded project (EUR 1.9M), integrating services for the European Open Science Cloud — the central platform for EU research data infrastructure.
• GN4-3
  EUR 1.8M contribution to the GÉANT network, Europe's backbone research and education network connecting 50+ countries.
• QIA
  Participation in the Quantum Internet Alliance signals SURF's forward positioning in next-generation secure communication infrastructure.