Indeed to kick-start this initiative, the Beihang University welcomed about 90 participants to the event, all coming from different institutes and regions near Beijing.  But beyond this shared interest in Grid technologies, the networking session organised during the workshop has highlighted a crucial element: the potential for joint EU/Chinese collaboration in Grid technologies.

The networking session originally designed as a platform to exchange contacts and references rapidly became a cluster of working groups in which both European and Chinese researchers brainstormed for joint project ideas. Very much like the implicit nature of the GRID, the workshop was cooperative, opening to discussions on GRID technologies and on potential GRID applications in China and Europe.

In this perspective, several project ideas have emerged from the discussions. We expect they could lead to the submission of common proposals. Yet, the event has already triggered mutual scientific interest on both communities and several Chinese teams will be participating to the 5th Call. These projects will crystallise this emerging collaboration, paving the way towards lasting EU/Chinese cooperation on GRIDs.

The next Grid@Asia workshop will be organised at the beginning of 2006. It will focus on Grid applications and will hopefully bring cooperation step further to potential Sino-European GRID synergies.