German research network

Deutsches Forschungsnetz (DFN) is an association founded in 1984 with the objective of promoting the development of an efficient data network for German research institutions. The association ensures that all scientists and users interested in communicating with them in the Federal Republic of Germany are provided with the technical and organizational prerequisites for a worldwide common information space.

Together with Deutsche Telekom, the German Science Network(WIN) was established in the 1980s, which is the part of the German Research Network that ensures the transmission of data.

The DFN is a data network geared to the requirements of universities using Datex services. The services offered are: Message Handling System( MHS), X.400, file transfer, Remote Job Entry( RJE). There are also international connections to other networks such as BITNET, EARN and UUCP-Netz.

The supporting association of DFN is the "Circle for the Promotion of DFN" (DFN Circle) with headquarters at the Hahn-Meitner-Institut( HMI) in Berlin-Wannsee. In addition to Hahn-Meitner-Institut (HMI) itself and the institutes of Technische Universität ( TU) and Freie Universität (FU), members include GMD, DIN, CERN and DESY, as well as a number of industrial companies. In mid-1996, DFN-Verein had about 390 members.