The objective of the RETHINK big project is to bring together the key European hardware, networking, and system architects with the key producers and consumers of Big Data to identify the industry coordination points that will maximize European competitiveness in the processing and analysis of Big Data over the next 10 years. Specifically, RETHINK big will deliver a strategic roadmap for how technology advancements in hardware and networking can be exploited for the purpose of data analytics while also taking into consideration advancements in applications, algorithms and systems.\n\nIn this project, we will not carry out actual research on Hardware optimizations for Big Data, but rather survey the landscape of opportunities and propose a strategic roadmap from that landscape. The outcome of the project will be a series of detailed (mentioning specific technologies), realistic (considering our 10-year timeline), verifiable (including target metrics) and coordinated technology development recommendations that would be in the best interest of European Big Data companies to undertake in concert as a matter of competitive advantage.

Practically speaking, the roadmap will be produced as a result of area specific and cross-functional working groups meetings and congresses. We will initially identify and evaluate the existing competencies across European Big Data application domains and technology providers in Europe and then identify the key European stakeholders, or the established and up-and-coming institutions that possess or are developing the technologies, processes or services that map to these competencies. From these stakeholder institutions, we will select technology and business experts that will chart the technological advancements, their respective challenges and the potential business opportunities that they present. These experts will not only share an interest in defining a credible roadmap, but also hold the decision-making power within their respective institutions (and collectively) to implement that roadmap.

At the highest level, this project will identify and evaluate the existing competencies across European Big Data Hardware and Networking technology sectors and application domains and prioritize the complementary interests and the shared opportunities that allow all key industrial stakeholder companies to unlock the highest return on their respective investments; it will result in a roadmap that would be irrational not to follow.