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last change: January 12, 2024

Mission & Purpose

ACOnet is a "National Research and Education Network" (NREN). NRENs exist in virtually every country in the world and are typically part of a continent-wide science network association. These continental networks are also interconnected by high-capacity fiber optic links. Thus, there is a worldwide network for science and research institutions, parallel to the commercial Internet.

Our Mission

  • ACOnet's core team at the University of Vienna operates the Austrian scientific data network in close cooperation with site administrators in the Austrian provinces, and continuously develops it in the interest of its participating organizations from the fields of science, research, education, art and culture.

  • ACOnet is a failsafe high-performance network ("backbone") with excellent connectivity to other scientific networks and the global Internet. In addition, ACOnet offers its participants a wide range of services. This combination enables ACOnet to foster innovative collaborations - both nationally and internationally.

  • Active exchange between participating organizations and community building are essential cornerstones of ACOnet. ACOnet's collaborative operating and design model and broad cooperation in working groups create the indispensable basis of trust for the efficient, stable and secure operation of the shared infrastructure.

  • As an important know-how carrier, the ACOnet community ensures knowledge transfer on a national and international level. With its neutral and independent expertise, the ACOnet community makes a sustainable contribution to digitization in the education sector.

Our Purpose

  • ACOnet provides its participants (institutions from science, research, education, art and culture) with a powerful network infrastructure and an attractive range of services.

  • ACOnet meets specific requirements of research projects and communities with particularly high quality demands.

  • ACOnet continuously improves the cost-benefit ratio for its participating organizations. The focus here is on maintaining stable operations while expanding the range of services.

  • ACOnet regularly aligns the evolution of its infrastructure and services with developments in the international research and education community. Sustainability, quality and flexibility are of the highest priority.


Further Information (in German)