Organization

The RNCA – National Advanced Computing Network – is managed by Foundation for Science and Technology, IP (FCT), designed to provide advanced computing services to the research, technology, and innovation communities. It was created by the Digital Skills Initiative Portugal INCoDe.2030, through Council of Ministers resolution 26/2018. It was integrated into the National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures of Strategic Interest (RNIE) in April 2019 through Order No. 4157/2019 of the Office of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education.

According to its internal regulations, the RNCA has the following organization, after formal appointment of its respective bodies:

Where,

• The “Coordination Council” is the highest management body of the RNCA, consisting of a representative from each Operational Center and each Competence Center.
• “RNCA Manager” is responsible for conducting the RNCA’s activities and is accountable to the Coordination Council.
• The "Access Committee" is responsible for implementing access to RNCA resources. It reviews and prioritizes usage proposals from user communities, based on an access policy.
• The “External Advisory Committee” supports the FCT and the RNCA bodies, advising them whenever necessary, on the strategic orientation of the RNCA.
• “RNCA User Forum” is the body for sharing knowledge and advice from the wider RNCA user community.

The COs and CCs are also essential components of the RNCA:

Operational Centers (CO)

COs provide the user community with advanced computing services as well as the corresponding technical support services, with a set of minimum requirements that they must meet, particularly in terms of technological capacity.

Competence Centers (CC)

The CC guarantees the user community, in a logic of proximity, supports the effective and efficient application of advanced computing resources, namely technical support services, information visualization, training, advice and aid for program development.