Nepal Research and Education Network (NREN) hosted the 55th Asia Pacific Advanced Network Meeting (APAN55) in Kathmandu from March 13-17, 2023. The meeting was participated by more than 440 people (in person and online), from diverse sectors, including researchers, scientists, politicians, network professionals, telehealth practitioners, and specialists from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Notably, 130 participants were local attendees. The five-day sessions comprised over 70 sessions covering an extensive range of topics from various working groups, including cloud, medical, IoT, network security, disaster mitigation, AI-driven networks, identity and access management, and more. Additionally, the event included several important training and information-sharing sessions, such as RPKI and MANRS, information-centric networking, joining eduGAIN, network engineering workshop, NREN’s activities during the Pandemic, HPC in Asia Pacific, and more. These programs provided valuable updates and insights for all attendees.

The five-day meeting was inaugurated by Mrs. Rekha Sharma, honorable Minister of Communication and Information Technology while Mrs. Pramila Bajracharya, Secretary of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) addressed the session as a special guest. Minister Sharma emphasized the need for advanced networks and digital technologies in today’s digitalized world. The minister also highlighted the importance of research for the country and the role of research and education networks. She talked about the Digital Nepal Framework through which outlines how the government of Nepal aims to leverage ICTs to their full potential in various service and development areas.

During the opening plenary session, MoU between Asia Europe Ring (AER) and KISTI was held in the presence of the chief guest, special guest and other dignitaries. Also the parties in the MoU briefly spoke about the importance of the AER connection at KISTI, Korea. Buseung Cho, Director of KREONET Center, KISTI, represented KISTI, to sign this MoU with Professor Lee Bu Sung, Chair of the AER Steering Group. The inclusion of KISTI into the Asiapacific-Europe Ring (AER) alongside its original members AARNet, GÉANT, HARNET, KAUST, NICT, NII, NORDUnet, SingAREN, SURF, and TEIN*CC, marks a significant and exciting milestone in building a more resilient, high-speed network services delivery system to benefit researchers globally. The expansion of the AER with the addition of KISTI reflects the growing importance of international collaboration and connectivity in research and education.

The keynote theme for APAN55 was the intersection of climate change impacts and technology, with an emphasis on the potential of advanced networks to address both issues. Dr. Arun Bhakta Shrestha of ICIMOD gave the first opening keynote speech. He spoke on the importance of building resilience and adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region in light of the implications of climate change.

Ms. Purnima Shrestha, a renowned mountaineer who has scaled 7 of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders, provided a mountaineer’s perspective on the current climate change context in the Himalayas.

The closing keynote speeches were given by Dr. Erik Huizer, CEO of GÉANT and by Dr. Franz A. de Leon, Director of Advanced Science and Technology Institute. Dr. Huizer placed emphasis on fostering community spirit, promoting service, and encouraging innovation in the global research and education network communities. He stressed the importance of adhering to the principles of doing good, doing right, and doing better. On the other hand, Dr. de Leon’s keynote focused on utilizing science, technology, and innovation to strengthen the Philippines’ ability to withstand the effects of climate change. Speakers from ISOC and WWRF also presented their perspectives on Protecting the Internet from Fragmentation and emerging research areas in 6G, respectively.

The APAN55 conference marked a momentous success after a few years of hiatus in physical meetings. As the local host, the NREN evaluated that the event rekindled the energy within the APAN communities and unveiled diverse opportunities for future activities and collaborations. The meeting not only tracked the current progress of various working groups but also fostered lively discussions on emerging technologies. Importantly, the APAN55 meeting largely supported the visibility of NREN and its efforts in promoting research and education activities in the country. Notable local attendees included high-level representation from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal Telecommunication Authority, Nepal Telecom, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, and leaders from various universities.

The success of the event is attributed to the valuable support of over 25 organizations, both directly and indirectly involved. The sponsors played a crucial role, with Ruijie Networks serving as the Platinum Sponsor, Asi@Connect as the Gold Sponsor, and Nepal Telecom as the Gold Sponsor. Additionally, eHualu, APNIC, and the Internet Society provided valuable assistance as Silver Sponsors, and WorldLink and Subisu Cablenet contributed as Internet Partners.