Collaboration to provide essential network capabilities to higher ed institutions

KeystoneREN today announced that it, in partnership with Penn State University and other Pennsylvania universities and partners, has been awarded a $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This grant will facilitate a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at expansion of essential cyberinfrastructure-based resources and services to under-resourced institutions of higher education across Pennsylvania.

The grant from the NSF underscores KeystoneREN’s commitment to advancing technology infrastructure in education and ensuring that all institutions have access to cutting-edge resources. This collaboration will empower under-resourced colleges and universities by enhancing their cyberinfrastructure capabilities fostering innovation and expanding opportunities for both students and researchers.

KeystoneREN will be working in close partnership with several universities including Penn State University, Allegheny College, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, and West Chester University. Additional technology partners include Three Rivers Optical Exchange (3ROX). The collaborative effort will focus on deploying state-of-the-art cyberinfrastructure solutions, managed by KeystoneREN and tailored to the unique needs of each participating institution. The project will include comprehensive training programs, technical support, and ongoing consultation to ensure a sustainable and effective implementation of these resources.

“We are proud to play a pivotal role in this important initiative expanding on the work of the original PA Science DMZ effort,” said Grant Dull, KeystoneREN’s executive director. “By utilizing our expertise and resources to manage the infrastructure, we aim to create a transformative impact on higher education institutions that may face barriers to accessing advanced cyberinfrastructure.” This NSF grant represents a significant milestone for KeystoneREN and collaborators, showcasing their dedication to fostering inclusive and technologically advanced education environments. Work related to this new grant builds on an earlier NSF planning grant that KINBER received and completed in 2023, and the first Campus Cyberinfrastructure Regional CC* PA Science DMZ grant for $1.1M which included partners organizations Swarthmore College, Lafayette College, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As the collaboration progresses, the impact on under-resourced institutions is expected to be substantial, unlocking new possibilities for research, education and innovation.