Grid economics
Vision Grid computing is seen as the next step for the Internet: a vision of large-scale, heterogeneous, distributed systems assembled at will across organizational boundaries (within or between companies) promising ultra-fast ubiquitous utility computing, always available at the flip of a switch. Grid computing aims to offer for computation what the internet delivered for communication.  Capabilities We work at ZRL to answer questions and solve problems, both on the higher business models level and on the details of implementing Grid economics in real systems in practice. We have acted as the advisor internally as well as externally for large companies in Life Sciences, Banking, and Energy and maintain an active role in the Grid world as a whole (see References). We offer business model design, transition planning, and detailed economic design of resources sharing schemes and decision support to optimally exploit new capabilities made possible by Grid computing. (For us the Grid computing includes any large, distributed, heterogeneous, computing infrastructure that crosses different budget responsibilities whether or not it is explicitly considered a Grid. The key element is the desire for a unified operation and exploitation of this infrastructure.) Security is an additional ZRL specialty. We also offer customer briefings on the Grid in general in conjunction with the Industry Solutions Laboratory. Implementations and briefings on specific Grid software point solutions are done in conjunction with EMEA Grid Customer Support and Innovation Centers in Boeblingen (Germany), Montpellier (France) and Hursley (UK).