The NSF EPSCoR and NIH IDeA northeast region (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Delaware) represents a broad range of cyberinfrastructure assets and needs. The three northernmost states are referred to as a black hole of connectivity because ME, NH and VT are not served by facilities-based optical networks in spite of their proximity to backbone connections in surrounding states and Canada. RI, despite its size, has extremely poor connectivity in the southern part of the state. DE is better connected to fiber networks, but requires additional fiber, hardware upgrades and personnel to take maximum advantage of existing and planned collaborations. To develop resilient, high-bandwidth connectivity between research and academic institutions in ME, RI, NH, VT and DE, we formed the North East Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (NECC) in 2006.
The North East Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (NECC) is a consortium of five states that are collaborating on building cyberinfrastructure in the NE region. The consortium is not formally affiliated with NSF EPSCoR or the NIH IDeA. The NECC states have a collaborative award from NSF EPSCoR (Track-2) for specific fiber, research, and workforce development and diversity programs. The NECC states have a coordinated set of supplements to INBRE and COBRE grants from NIH NCRR to further build cyberinfrastructure in the region. These supplement cover fiber, research, electronics, and training in cyber-tools and education outreach in the region.