The National Education and Research Network Association (RNP) is a non-profit private company of public interest (see below), founded in 1999, whose mission is to promote the innovative use of advanced networks in Brazil. The creation of the Association made it possible to give institutional form to the original National Research Network project, which had been funded by CNPq – the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – since 1989, and made it possible for the network to receive regular public funding, from the ministries of Science and Technology (MCT) and Education (MEC), which has enabled the deployment of the nucleus of the high-performance network infrastructure that now serves hundreds of Brazilian teaching and research institutions.
In January 2002, the AsRNP was qualified by the federal government as a Social Organization (OS). In March 2002 it signed a long-term management contract with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) with the aim of fostering technological research and development activities in networks, and operating advanced networks and services.
Administrative Council
The Administrative Council is the AsRNP’s governing body. It is made up of representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education; the Brazilian Computing Society (SBC); the National Laboratory for Computer Networks (LARC); RNP’s Points of Presence; its members, and users. This composition follows the orientation of the Law of Social Organizations, which determines that these collegiate bodies have the participation of representatives of the public sector, civil society organizations, members and users.
The Council meets at least three times a year, and is responsible for approving the annual budget and programme of investments, in addition to the annual accounts, as well proposals brought by the Board of Directors.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for the day-to-day running of AsRNP, and is composed of up to five members. The Board is chaired by the Director General, who is chosen, and may also de dismissed, by the Administrative Council. The other directors are proposed by the Director General, subject to the approval of the Administrative Council.
