Interview with Nick Trigg,
CEO Constellation Technologies

Constellation Technologies, one of two new EGEE Business Associates, is a rapidly expanding company at the commercial forefront of both cloud and grid computing. Constellation has developed its SuperCloud™ technology, which offers lower costs and  greater efficiency in  computing requirements. The EGEE Business Forum spoke to Nick Trigg, CEO of Constellation to find out more.

What IT challenges does cloud and grid computing address?
In simple terms, cost reduction and flexible access to on-demand computing infrastructure, which means more computers when you want them and fewer when you don’t. This translates into total IT flexibility. 
Demand by industry for computing infrastructure is continuing to grow as businesses al increasingly carry out more detailed modelling analyses, with the aim of developing products and services that have a commercial advantage over competitors. However, the costs and challenges associated with both owning and managing large infrastructures are becoming prohibitive. This is particularly the case for companies that have fewer resources for IT innovation.
Cloud computing is a promising new technology that addresses these challenges with the potential to reduce infrastructure costs, increase business flexibility and bring access to more compute power or more storage capacity. Constellation is already providing commercial level services to businesses looking at using the power of the cloud or grid computing.

What is the main focus and value-add of Constellation Technologies in the current landscape?
Although there are many examples of cloud or grid computing working well in the academic sphere, there are only a very few working examples in industry.  This is mainly because, although the technology is robust and scalable, it has not been made easy for businesses to use.
Constellation is providing just such a service to industry – to help commercial companies benefit from the advantages of the cloud using their own applications. The company is currently in discussions with several companies that are all looking to see whether the power of the Cloud can address some of their computing needs.
Systems have already been designed and worked on prospective projects for customers in the pharmaceutical industry, multinational financial industry, and a media distribution company. Solutions are also possible in many other sectors – energy, metrological, chemical and many others .
What is the connection between Constellation Technologies and CERN and what is the main motivation for joining the EBA programme?
Constellation is a European spin-out from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) of the UK’s Science & Technology Facility Council (STFC), demonstrating the value-add of transferring the knowledge and competences developed by EGEE, particularly with regard to EGEE’s open source gLite middleware.
EGEE and Constellation have joined forces to help ensure that the technology developed by EGEE reaches the mainstream, through the innovation activity at RAL and the work of other Business Associates. The advantages of the EBA programme are real and substantial.  Access to early stage planning as well as a close relationship with the EGEE programme enables the company to understand the technical road map. This is of huge value when understanding the future potential of the technology.

Why is EGEE's gLite a valuable asset for Constellation’s SuperCloud?
gLite middleware has showed itself to be robust and resilient and work well at a global level. It is already used in one of the largest globally distributed grids in the world. Development of the technology is continuing under EGEE and the EBA programme and should be supported also under EGI (European Grid Initiative) currently being set up. This means that gLite will be around for many years to come.
What achievements have been made to date?
Constellation has already raised  development funds, received its first contract and is in detailed negotiations with companies in a variety of commercial sectors.  It has already showed that computing costs can be reduced and value can be added to the end user.

What are Constellation’s plans for the near future?
Constellation will continue to provide cloud services and products to a wide range of industrial sectors including pharmaceuticals, finance, media and others across Europe.  Having gained valuable experience from working with industry, Constellation is in an excellent position to supply solutions to real industrial needs.  Cloud computing is entering an exciting growth phase and as the company has a very strong technical position with connections into CERN and many European research facilities the future looks very exciting.

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 13:14 )