News

From February 5 to March 11, 2025, individuals and organizations interested in participating in the Transnational Networking Conference 2025 (TNC25)—Europe’s leading research and education networking conference organized by GÉANT—can submit their proposals in the categories of Lightning Talks, Birds of a Feather (BoFs), and Community Hub.

Lightning Talks, designed for sharing innovative ideas, project advancements, or key insights in a fast-paced format, offer brief and dynamic presentations lasting 5 to 10 minutes. Birds of a Feather (BoFs) will provide open discussion spaces where participants with common interests can exchange ideas, collaborate, and develop new initiatives without a structured agenda. Meanwhile, the Community Hub will serve as a networking space within the conference, offering demonstrations, experience sharing, and opportunities for engagement in a flexible and participatory environment.

A review committee will evaluate the proposals and select those that best align with the conference’s objectives and themes. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified and provided with further details regarding their participation.

RedCLARA participated in TNC24, held in France, where it showcased technological and collaborative advancements from Latin America and the Caribbean. Its contributions covered regional connectivity, network security, Earth observation, and digital health. RedCLARA’s work with CERN and GÉANT on cybersecurity, the impact of the Copernicus Academy program in the region, and its achievements in routing security were among the highlights. Additionally, in the session on digital transformation in health, advancements in telemedicine and new opportunities were explored, with the BELLA II project serving as a foundation for improving digital infrastructure in the region.

The preliminary program for TNC25, along with details on visas, agenda, and other aspects of the event, is now available on the official conference website: https://connect.geant.org/.

For further information or inquiries, contact tnc@geant.org. Interested participants can also subscribe to the TNC mailing list to receive updates on conference activities.

What is this Call for Proposals for?

We want to see presentations and contributions which cut across silos and bring everyone together to talk about our ideas and expertise. Share your bright ideas to help us build a programme of relevance and use to the NREN community.

Lightning Talks

Lightning Talks focus on one key point. This can be an idea, a successful project, a cautionary story, a collaboration invitation, a quick tip or demonstration. It is a great opportunity for ideas to get the attention they deserve, all within five minutes!

Bird of a Feather (BoF)

BoFs are meetings up to 40 pax and will be scheduled during conference hours (Tuesday, 10 June – Thursday, 12 June).

Community Hub

The Community Hub is an informal space designed to be dynamic and interactive, where participants can exchange expertise and connect with global colleagues. The Hub offers two formats:

Demo/showcase

This format is perfect for researchers, practitioners or developers to share technical innovations and lessons learned. Other formats such as a deep-dive session or introducing a new concept/project for input are welcome.

• Capacity of the space: 60 people
• Session length: 30 minutes
• Basic AV equipment (screen, microphone, no VC equipment) will be arranged

Community meet-up

An informal session without screens where participants can discuss key challenges, share opportunities, or brainstorm new initiatives. Examples from last year include meet the expert, public affairs clinic, meet & greets, etc.

• Session length: up to 45 minutes
• Submit now

Please take a look at the submission guidelines before submitting your proposal.

Submissions close 11 March 2025 midnight (CET).