SURF is the collaborative information and communications technology (ICT) cooperative association for educational and research institutions in the Netherlands. Founded to support the digital transformation of education and research, SURF operates as a national backbone for advanced networking, shared digital services, and innovation enabling high-quality, flexible learning and research environments.  Through cooperative innovation, it strengthens the digital capacity of the Netherlands’ education and research ecosystem, fosters collaboration across institutions, and ensures members can compete and collaborate in increasingly data-intensive global research and learning environment.

It serves more than 100 member institutions including universities, universities of applied sciences, vocational education schools, and research organizations.

Key developments:

• SURFsara was founded in 1971 as Stichting Academisch Rekencentrum Amsterdam (SARA) by the University of Amsterdam, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam ,and the Stichting Mathematisch Centrum (the current Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica). These institutions require computer facilities to perform complex calculations.
• In the late 1980, SURF started developing a network for higher education and research. The objective was to construct a single network transparent to users: one network that incorporates all networks in higher education and research.
• In 1990, the first production version of SURF's network went live: SURFnet2. This network offers transport facilities based on the Internet protocol (IP) in addition to the then-current X.25 protocol.

Examples of activities:

• Digital Infrastructure & Services
  • Operates the national research and education network and provides services such as high-performance computing, secure identity management (e.g., federated login), data management platforms, and cloud services that support large-scale collaboration and research productivity.
• SURF Open Innovation Lab - with a focus on:
  • Advanced computing & networking
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Edge-oriented technologies
  • Data processing & data management technologies
• Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement
  • Collaborates with European research infrastructures and ecosystem partners (e.g., EGI), contributing to broader research data sharing, open science practices, and international interoperability.

Resources

https://www.surf.nl/en