Towards a Knowledge Grid: requirements for a GridOS to support the Next Generation Grid A Position Paper

CCLRC is a UK civil research laboratory which provides large scale facilities to the international scientific community – mainly university based, although also used by industry. Current and planned CCLRC facilities include particle accelerators/synchrotrons that produce neutrons, muons, x-rays and visible light for non-destructive materials testing using a large range of sensors; the world’s most powerful pulsed laser; satellite build and test facilities; one of the world’s 20 most powerful supercomputers; the UK node to collect, store and nationally distribute data from CERN; a nanotechnology fabrication unit ; an atmosphere radar; the World data centre for atmospheric science, and a satellite tracking groundstation. Users range from individuals and companies, to consortia of 1500 staff in 900 universities, who produce about 1200 academic journal publications annually from their use of CCLRC’s facilities.