Capping an eight-month-long community-driven process, the Internet2 Board of Trustees today approved a new strategic plan for Internet2. Formed in 1996 by 34 universities, Internet2 today brings together more than 300 member organizations from academia, industry and government. The broad Internet2 community includes 38 U.S. state education networks and international partner organizations representing more than 50 other countries. Since its inception, Internet2's activities have grown to include advanced network applications, middleware, tools and services. Looking ahead to 2013, the strategic plan lays out a core mission for the Internet2 community of ensuring that scholars and researchers have access to the advanced networks, tools and support required for the next generation of collaborative discovery and innovation, and of effectively preparing today's students to be the next generation of innovators. The goals identified to fulfill the mission are to:

• Design, operate, and continually advance a leading-edge research and education network as a national asset,
• Provide researchers and scholars with the tools and support they need to envision and execute the next generation of collaborative discovery,
• Maintain vigorous partnership, outreach, and advocacy programs to jointly develop, promote, and share the transformational power of cyberinfrastructure throughout the communities in which we work and live,
• Operate the Internet2 organization as an exemplary membership organization with financial transparency and member engagement at all levels in order to achieve the membership's shared objectives as articulated through participatory governance and continuous assessment.

The Internet2 Strategic Planning and Execution Committee, in collaboration with Internet2 staff, now will work from the approved strategic plan to develop implementation plans to be presented at the Fall 2008 Internet2 Member Meeting scheduled for 13-16 October in New Orleans, Louisiana hosted by Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI). Additional details about the Internet2 Strategic Plan can be found at its Web site.