CRIM is part of one of the world's top 100 R&D projects of 2017!

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 12, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The ESGF initiative was recently selected as one of the top 100 research and development projets of 2017 by the R&D 100 Awards. ESGF (Earth System Grid Federation) is a concerted development effort in climate and Earth System science that brings together several major partners such as NASA and various research centres in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, including CRIM. Since 1963, the R&D 100 Awards program, an integral part of the R&D Magazine brand, identifies and celebrates the top 100 revolutionary technologies developed on the planet in all fields, whether industrial, academic or governmental. This year's winners were announced by R&D Magazine during the 55^th R&D 100 Awards gala held in Orlando in November 2017.

ESGF is the first decentralized database in climate and earth sciences. This cyberinfrastructure built upon open source software provides each user with access to results and models produced by research teams around the world. ESGF currently serves 25,000 users and manages more than five petabytes (5,000 terabytes) of geospatial and geophysical data. ESGF is both a data and knowledge sharing system and a network that promotes and facilitates partnerships between researchers around the world with complementary expertise or interests.

Over the years, CRIM's expertise in IT and geospatial analysis has enabled it to contribute to several projects related to Earth observation and climate science. For example, the PAVICS project, led by Ouranos in collaboration with CRIM, led to the creation of an open research platform that provides rapid access for the analysis and visualization of climate and scientific information. 

Since 2016, CRIM has been working to increase the number of Canadian partners and researchers in the ESGF network, and has contributed to it by sharing the results of several of its projects, including the PAVICS platform and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) testbeds.

The award presented to ESGF underscores the importance of developing information exchange networks in research areas that impact all regions of the world.

About CRIM: CRIM is an applied research and expertise centre in information technology, dedicated to making organizations more effective and competitive through the development of innovative technology and the transfer of leading edge know-how, while contributing to scientific advancement. CRIM is a non-profit organization whose neutrality and strong network make it an indispensable resource. Its work is in line with the policies and strategies of its major financial partner, the ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation. The PAVICS project is funded by CANARIE, Ouranos and CRIM.

SOURCE Centre de recherche Informatique de Montréal (CRIM)