The FIRE (Future Internet Research and Experimentation) Initiative was launched at the beginning of 2007 as part of Framework Programme 7 (FP7). It builds on the "Situated and Autonomic Communications" Initiative and other internet-related projects funded under the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Programme, as well as on several projects launched as Research Networking Testbeds already operating under FP6.

FIRE has two related dimensions: on the one hand, promoting experimentally-driven long-term, visionary research on new paradigms and networking concepts and architectures for the future internet; and on the other hand, building large-scale experimentation facilities to support both medium- and long- term research on networks and services by gradually federating existing and new testbeds for emerging or future internet technologies.