The mission of REFEDS (the Research and Education FEDerations group) is to be the voice that articulates the mutual needs of research and education identity federations worldwide. The group represents the requirements of research and education.
REFEDS participants are from a wide range of backgrounds, but all share an interest in developing access and identity management technology, policies, and processes. Many participants represent national identity federations and many come from National Research and Education Networks (‘NRENS’).
REFEDS will address issues and topics based on the interests and requirements of its participants. This includes mostly policy, but also some technical and outreach topics in areas such as interfederation, privacy, assurance, relationships with partner communities, marketing, and support of emerging federations. REFEDS will seek to develop consensus on approaches that work for all its participating federations.
Above all else, REFEDS is a community of practitioners actively engaged in access and identity work within their home countries and supportive of standards-compliant developments to enhance international collaboration.
REFEDS is managed by GÉANT, who provides secretariat support for the group. REFEDS meets twice a year and manages its work throughout the year via the REFEDS wiki, the REFEDS mailing list, and via its working groups.