Efficient global "e-Science" cooperation now a reality GLORIAD Korea was opened as a global R&D highway on August 1, 2005, as a sea change takes place in the international research paradigm. GLORIAD is an international science technology cooperation research network gearing the entire globe with an optical communication network, currently linking six countriesnamely Korea, the United States, China, Russia, Canada, and the Netherlands. The president of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), Cho Young-hwa, is busy with preparations for the 'Grand Opening for the Big GLORIAD' ceremony as well as the GLORIAD Leaders Meeting, scheduled to be held on September 5-6 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul. Cho said that this GLORIAD launch has more significance in that an "e-Science" environment, called a "Dream research environment" has now become a reality in the international arena, explaining that GLORIAD links the world with an ultra-fast research network as to be able to transmit 400 music files in a second. The president noted that an "e-Science" research environment that can share largesized capacity information, cutting-edge research machinery and tools, and research human power freely in cyberspace, has been a key ambition of the world science technology circles for several years. When this environment takes root, several laboratories will be able to simultaneously pursue one project, while reducing research time significantly, jointly utilizing high-cost, state-of-the-art research equipment like supercomputers, he said. In order to realize an "e-Science" environment, a research network of over 10G notch is needed. Advanced IT countries like Korea are creating speed higher than that already in their countries, but the problem lies in creating a truly global "e-Science" environment. To date, research network speed that Korea has been gearing with separate countries such as China, Japan and France, was no more than 155M~1G. Moreover, it is true to say that even data exchange was not easy as its efficiency declines rapidly because to cooperate with nations without direct research networks one had to go via several countries. However, with this GLORIAD participation, the president is proud that Korea has now come to participate in a direct network with science powers of each continent and become a country able to carry out "e- Science" international cooperation most efficiently in the world. Cho explained that Korea now finds itself at the center of the world's GLORIAD science technology, meaning first that Korea no longer needs to feel that it is excluded from international joint research. Besides, this GLORIAD participation means that Korea is now in a position to establish itself as Northeast Asia's R&D's hub for science technology. He added that international "e- Science" projects are increasing exponentially, thanks to the enormous economic effects and its participation via KISTI's GLORIAD network has put Korea on the fast track among its neighboring countries to take part in such projects. He highlighted the fact that Korea has consolidated its optimum location as the real R&D hub of Northeast Asia's science technology, with this official launch of GLORIAD Korea as an impetus. Until now, Korea's science technology circles have often been frustrated about the nation's presence on the world stage due to its unfavorable location geopolitically, lack of natural resources, and the absence of core technology, etc. However, Cho asserted, with optical speed networking, Korea can now overcome such obstacles. He went on to say that he was confident that Korea could in the foreseeable future become a center of global science technology, not to mention in Northeast Asia, if the country takes the initiative in leading the way in the "e-Science." For example, Korea could help in resolving energy shortages in the future by participating in the next-generation nuclear fusion project, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and take the initiative in promoting joint utilization of hitech equipment on a global level by taking part in the OptIPutre project through GLORIAD. To achieve this objective, he advised that the government, science technology circles, and all nations should spare no efforts in actively supporting and showing keener interest in developing a global science technology research network.