e-Science is shorthand for “enhanced science" – i.e., scientific methods whose efficiency can be enhanced by the technological possibilities of next-generation information technology and the internet (Web 2.0). Intellectual and technical resources in science are combined in a global network. This will result in new ways of collaborative and interdisciplinary research - e-Science is the future of scientific work.

To interconnect the intellectual and technological resources in research in “virtual organizations,“ appropriate application programs and an innovative infrastructure need to be developed - a suitable, secure and reliable foundation that meets the requirements of scientific working and publishing. Data and knowledge flows must be organized in an efficient and sustainable way.

e-Science, however, is much more than the professional handling of data masses and the optimum integration of computer and equipment capacities. The data obtained have to be “tidied up“ and integrated into a scientific classification system in such a way that they are sustainably documented as the “knowledge of science“ and available for permanent and future use.
e-Science will soon result in new value-added services for science.

In some countries – e.g. the United States and the United Kingdom – national programs already have led to improved conditions for e-Science. In Germany initial advances for providing an e-science infrastructure have been made with the D-Grid and e-Science initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

In the foreseeable future, the e-Science initiatives and activities of various countries will soon lead to an international e-Science network. FIZ Karlsruhe – a publicly funded institution whose task is to support knowledge transfer in Germany and abroad with innovative solutions – plays an important role in knowledge networking in Germany.

FIZ Karlsruhe is a pioneer in the digital information business. The staff has superior expertise in scientific information and knowledge transfer. Innovative information services have been FIZ Karlsruhe’s core business for 30 years and enjoy good standing in the marketplace. These services are based on cutting-edge retrieval and application software with intelligent tools for authorization and authentication, workflow, user management, object management, standardization of data, and license management. FIZ Karlsruhe is also highly qualified in dealing with sensitive issues like access protection, data protection, and data integrity.
All of these aspects of know-how and expertise are required by e-Science.

In addition, FIZ Karlsruhe’s USP is to serve as a neutral platform for offers and solutions provided by different, competing players in the marketplace. This neutral platform is acknowledged and highly valued by users and customers.

This neutral position also benefits the e-Science activities and adds to the diversity of this sensitive market. FIZ Karlsruhe’s aim is, in accordance with its USP, to provide the scientific community with a neutral, stable organizational and technical basis as an "e-Science framework," upon which numerous applications for science and business can be built.