European cloud testing environment to be offered free of charge during 2014

LONDON, UK: The former EU-initiative BonFIRE Project is offering its multi-site cloud infrastructure free throughout 2014 for researchers and SMEs to use for testing and experimentation of cloud-based applications and services. Although EU investment finished at the end of 2013, the infrastructure will continue to operate as the BonFIRE Foundation.

The continuation of the service beyond the lifetime of the EU-funded project is a major step forward for European research. Rather than being a centrally funded project, the Foundation will be financed by its core members. Testbed providers, integrators, and partners who agree to provide practical support for the project are full members of the BonFIRE Foundation; other partners will retain their links as associates.

BonFIRE enables developers to research new, faster, cheaper, or more flexible ways of running applications with new business models. SMEs and researchers can test a range of cloud scenarios, such as cloud bursting and hybrid clouds, across BonFIRE's five European sites.