General Coordinator
Three decades of history
At the genesis of the FCCN is the Foundation for the Development of National Scientific Calculation Methods, created on December 23, 1986.
We've been changing the internet for 30 years, giving our best to the national scientific community, providing dozens of services to thousands of users.
Today, FCCN connects more than 80 higher education institutions, laboratories, and other public institutions with high-speed connections.
Over these three decades, we have developed a range of collaboration, communication, computing, security and knowledge services so that our users can do more and better.
The first steps in history.
1986 – Creation of the Foundation for the Development of National Scientific Calculation Methods
On December 23, 1986, which would give rise to FCCN.
Its founding members were the National Board of Scientific and Technological Research (JNICT), the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC), the National Institute of Scientific Research (INIC) and the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP).
According to the initial statutes, the object of its activity was the development of national means of scientific calculation, the promotion and installation of powerful means of calculation and their articulation with other scientific and technical entities in the public and private sectors.
1987 – The Foundation’s first executive board takes office.
Beyond logistical issues, FCCN sought from the outset to help the Portuguese scientific and technological community overcome "glaring deficiencies" in computing resources for scientific calculations.
The meeting of networks.
1988 – Included in its activity plan the foundations for the establishment, in Portugal, of the National Scientific Calculation Network (RCCN).
It was the predecessor of the current RCTS. In June of that year, the FCCN held a Meeting on Networks that brought together a large number of Portuguese professors and researchers in Lisbon.
History tells the story of how the importance of data networks was recognized for the more rational use of computer equipment, for exchanging messages and files (the first steps of email), and for consulting databases.
The importance of interconnecting the new network with its European counterparts was highlighted in order to combat the isolation of Portuguese researchers.
Supply to all schools in the country.
1995 – Start of operation of GigaPix.
A neutral, non-profit Portuguese traffic exchange point aimed at improving the quality of IP network interconnection in Portugal.
1997 – Internet access began to be provided to all schools in the country.
RCTS ensured connection to 1650 schools, from 5th to 12th grade.
1998 – Start of service video conference.
Development of optical fiber.
2002 – CERT.PT was created and filled the gap for a CERT at a national level.
Until 2014 the RCTS CERT It used the name CERT.PT and historically assumed a national mission in responding to security incidents. After the creation of the CNCS, an entity that assumed responsibility for coordinating incident response at the national level, the FCCN CERT was renamed RCTS CERT, reflecting its new scope of action—the RCTS Network.
2003 – IPv6 connection to the European GÉANT network & eU initiative (historical predecessor to eduroam).
FCCN has been evolving RCTS to support functional Internet services in both technologies – IPv4 and IPv6, having been one of the first to do so with international connectivity through European network GÉANT.
Portugal was the first country to have eduroam and national mobility through hotspots available in almost all of its institutions, thanks to the national government's investment in a project to implement Wi-Fi networks.
2004 – Start of b-on – Online Knowledge Library, from the service of Video broadcasting and implementation of Fiber Optics at RCTS
A service that encourages the community to consume and produce scientific content and another that allows live broadcasting of events worldwide via the internet.
A leap in broadband is also part of this story, when in 2004 a fiber optic cable was acquired, awarded to Refer Telecom and a contract was also signed for the installation of fiber optic cable, maintenance services and equipment housing.
2005 – Start of services eduroam and RCTS VoIP.
Optical infrastructure investments were also made for RCTS, reaching an approximate length of 100km of 48-fiber cable.
More services available.
2007 – Start of service Arquivo.pt and the Alert Line for security incidents.
A service for preserving Portuguese digital heritage, also important for preserving history, and a service for reporting alleged illegal online content.
2008 – Start of Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal (RCAAP).
Launch of the national open access initiative and aims to store, preserve, and promote access to scientific knowledge produced in Portugal.
2009 – Start of service desktop video conferencing (Colibri), from the e-learning support service (educast) and opening of the Estúdio.
Inauguration of the HD Studio and of the immersive rooms. An international fiber optic ring was created on the Iberian Peninsula, with connection to the Spanish NREN RedIRIS in May 2009, on the borders of Badajoz and Galicia.
Integration into the FCT
2012 – Integration of FCCN into the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
Integration into the FCT of the mission and responsibilities that had been pursued by the FCCN, as a public foundation under private law – Decree-Law No. 55/2013.
2013 – Creation of the Association DNS.PT, succeeding FCCN in the responsibility of managing the .pt top-level domain.
The mission and responsibilities of the FCCN would be integrated into the Foundation for Science and Technology, IP.
2014 – Start of PTCRIS
Structuring program for science and technology management that aims to promote the integration of various science support information systems used by researchers, science managers and the general public
2017 – INCD and start of the Project RCTS100
The National Distributed Computing Infrastructure (INCD) provides HPC (High Performance Computing) resources within the scope of the FCT research infrastructure roadmap.
Development of national communication and large data computing capabilities to meet the most demanding technological needs of the research community.
2018 – Start of SCIENCEVITAE and SCIENCEID and Iberian Advanced Computing Network
The new Portuguese Science Curriculum and the National Science Identifier, respectively. Agreement between Portugal and Spain to jointly develop an advanced computing network in the Iberian Peninsula.
2019 – Launch of NAU Platform, and the RAE – Extended Network of Schools is ensured
Launch of the first courses on the Platform that operationalizes the national initiative for operating technical and operational infrastructure to support the publication and promotion of content in MOOC format.
The RAE's internet connection, at 40Gbps, was ensured for all 1st and 2nd Cycle Basic Education and Secondary Education schools in the Public Network.
2020 – Launch of National Advanced Computing Network (RNCA)
The 1st edition of the Advanced Computing Projects Competition was held at RNCA, with computing capacity from 4 national centers: MACC (U. Minho), U. Coimbra, U. Évora and National Advanced Computing Infrastructure (INCD) and the Regulation for the National Advanced Computing Network was published in the official gazette.
