SAIL's objective is the research and development of novel networking technologies using proof-of-concept prototypes to lead the way from current networks to the Network of the Future.SAIL leverages state of the art architectures and technologies, extends them as needed, and integrates them using experimentally-driven research, producing interoperable prototypes to demonstrate utility for a set of concrete use-cases.SAIL reduces costs for setting up, running, and combining networks, applications and services, increasing the efficiency of deployed resources (e.g., personnel, equipment and energy).SAIL improves application support via an information-centric paradigm, replacing the old host-centric one, and develops concrete mechanisms and protocols to realise the benefits of a Network of Information (NetInf).SAIL enables the co-existence of legacy and new networks via virtualisation of resources and self-management, fully integrating networking with cloud computing to produce Cloud Networking (CloNe).SAIL embraces heterogeneous media from fibre backbones to wireless access networks, developing new signalling and control interfaces, able to control multiple technologies across multiple aggregation stages, implementing Open Connectivity Services (OConS).SAIL also specifically addresses cross-cutting themes and non-technical issues, such as socio-economics, inclusion, broad dissemination, standardisation and network migration, driving new markets, business roles and models, and increasing opportunities for both competition and cooperation.SAIL gathers a strong industry-led consortium of leading operators, vendors, SME, universities and research centres, with a valuable experience acquired in previous FP7 projects, notably 4WARD. The impact will be a consensus among major European operators and vendors on a well-defined path to the Network of the Future together with the technologies required to follow that path.