News: 10 years of EaPConnect: transforming research, education and society

10 years of EaPConnect: transforming research, education and society

Launched in 2015, the EU-funded ‘EU4Digital: Connecting Research and Education Communities (EaPConnect)’ project has empowered universities, research institutions, and students across the Eastern Partnership countries by providing high-capacity network infrastructure, facilitating international collaboration, and ensuring access to cutting-edge digital resources.

As EaPConnect celebrates its 10th anniversary and nears its conclusion in June 2025, it’s an ideal moment to reflect on its achievements and impact on the NRENs, research, education, and society as a whole. The directors of the five NRENs beneficiary partners involved – ASNET-AM from Armenia, AzScienceNet from Azerbaijan, GRENA from Georgia, RENAM from Moldova and URAN from Ukraine – discussed the profound impact of EaPConnect, the challenges overcome, and how its legacy will continue to shape the future of education and research long after the project’s formal conclusion.

“The EaPConnect project essentially contributed to improving connectivity in our country. At present, we have two ‘spectrum’ high-capacity internet links: RENAM (Chisinau, Moldova) – URAN (Kyiv, Ukraine) – PSNC (Poznan, Poland) and RENAM (Chisinau, Moldova) – RoEduNet (Bucharest, Romania). Another great impact was on our services, resulting in both the increased services portfolio of RENAM and the expanded use of these services by the end-users in the connected institutions. Over the years, RENAM has significantly enhanced its presence and reputation as an NREN within Moldova’s research and education community.”
Peter Bogatencov, Chair of the Management Board at RENAM, Moldova

Read the full 5-way interview: https://eapconnect.eu/stories/celebrating-10-years-of-eapconnect-transforming-research-education-and-society/

Watch the animation video to learn more about EaPConnect’s remarkable journey, highlighting its key milestones and accomplishments across the Eastern Partnership countries. This video reflects a decade of progress and innovation and showcases how the project has benefited research, education, and society throughout the region: from integrating with GÉANT’s pan-European network and deploying services specifically developed for research and education, to improving network capacity and supporting success stories in fields such as physics, Earth observation, and medicine.

“The legacy of EaPConnect lies not just in the technology, but in the lasting human connections we built and the collaborative spirit we nurtured. The project didn’t just bridge the digital divide; it united countries and people. No longer isolated by geography or technological differences, the EaP NRENs have become part of a collaborative network working toward a common goal: bringing their countries, educators, researchers, and communities closer together. EaPConnect has fostered an environment conducive to collaboration where each country’s strength is valued. The impact has gone beyond academia, transforming relationships and creating a true sense of partnership and will continue to shape the future of the EaP countries’ digital and research infrastructure for years to come.”
Irina Matthews, EaPConnect Project Manager, GÉANT