Goals

The goal of the Internet2 Middleware Initiative (I2-MI) is to assist in the creation of interoperable middleware infrastructures among the membership of Internet2 and related communities. This goal is guided by several principles:

1. Make it happen. In order to deploy the advanced applications that are at the core of the Internet2 mission, interoperable middleware infrastructures are needed. The challenges lie as much in policy and practice as in technology. The need is immediate, and broad participation and significant resources will be required.
2. Be an honest broker. Interoperable middleware infrastructures are at the intersection of the interests of a large number of communities. National advanced computational systems, higher education, government agencies, corporate partners, libraries, and are all in urgent need of middleware services. It is the role of I2-MI to work with these groups and help them to work with one another.
3. Integrate across applications. Middleware is a true infrastructure, and as such it should be able to work with the widest possible variety of applications. A single infrastructure should support the instructional and research goals of institutions of higher education, and should be tightly coupled to key administrative systems.
4. Interoperate between campuses. In line with the mission of Internet2 and other educational and research initiatives, middleware will need to interoperate between campuses, and do so at both functional and policy levels.