Brussels, Oct 29 (IANS) Pakistani scientists and researchers are now connected to colleagues across the globe, courtesy two of the world’s most powerful computers, the European Commission said.Pakistani scientists will now be able to connect to the world through GEANT, the world’s fastest computer network dedicated to research and education, and TEIN, the Asian counterpart, Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for information society and media, said Tuesday.

“Europe is delighted that Pakistan’s scientists and academics are now connected to the global research and education community thanks to this new link,” she said.

“I am pleased that the TEIN programme, which provides a regional backbone for research and education across Asia Pacific, has made this possible and connects Pakistan to the European scientists and researchers on the GEANT network,” she added.

Using European networks, Pakistani scientists from 60 universities and institutes, linked via the Pakistan Education Research Network (PERN), will be able to work with their peers on research projects that require fast data transfers to share information across the globe.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for external relations and European neighbourhood policy, said the connection to the network enables Pakistani scientists to become involved in international research collaboration “and reinforces our commitment towards building a strong partnership with Pakistan”.

The network is also connected to the US, giving researchers access to North America.

GEANT was launched in 2000 and is jointly funded by Brussels and participating nations.

The European Commission also announced a further 90 million Euros ($136 million) in funding for the project up to 2012 to create a single global research network.

TEIN and GEANT together serve close to 100 million researchers in Europe and Asia, enabling ground breaking research collaboration in fields such as climate change, radio astronomy and biotechnology.