The aim in the development of grids is that the researcher should only need to use the top level: jobs sent to the grid by researchers are received at the higher-level middleware application interface and automatically forwarded via the system management to one or several servers on the lower levels.

The middleware programs make the grid environment seem uniform and easy-to-use, though the levels below the middleware contain complex, quite divergent architectures. Middleware programs support the use of existing user interfaces, programs and databases over the same network-based application interface.

The most convenient way for Finnish researchers to get access to international grid infrastructures is through CSC. CSC already has a role as ”mediator” for various research communities, for instance, in granting resource distribution over the computing centers.

The grid technologies enable scientists representing a certain field to use shared resources, such as computing capacity and software. The user rights for the grid are granted depending on the resource needs of the researcher.