JISC

November 1995

C12-95 BT/JISC SuperJANET research collaboration

To: Heads of institutions funded by the HEFCs or by the DENI
Copies: Information Services Directors of those institutions

JISC Circular 12/95

BT / JISC SuperJANET research collaboration BT-funded research on applications, 1996


As part of a continuing collaborative programme with JISC, BT is funding research projects to develop and assess applications to be operated on SuperJANET. In 1996 it is expected that two or three projects will be funded within aprogramme having a total value of 200k. The topics to be funded will fall into one or more of the following categories:-

- applications involving multimedia file delivery
- applications involving distributed databases /
- multimedia database browsing
- highly interactive applications
- innovative video applications
- applications for distributed supercomputer networking
- broadband applications for business support
- applications supporting group working

In addition:-

• The results of research into an application should have generic applicability to other potential applications.
• Applications developed should have the scope for wide use and ultimately be potentially commercially viable. To demonstrate this scope, proposals should identify the wealth-creating potential of the application to commercial or industrial organisations.
• Preference will be given to applications that exploit the specific advantages offered by SuperJANET - applications that could be developed to run equally effectively on existing networks and infrastructures will not be favoured unless there is a clear upgrade route offering superior performance dependent upon the functionality and throughput of SuperJANET.
• Preference will be given to proposals that will deploy equipment already available to the research team(s).
• Preference will be given to projects which use commercially available IT equipment and software and which are directed towards studying the interaction between application and network performance. The use of low cost, widely available equipment will be particularly attractive.
• Highly innovative applications which meet real user needs will be favoured.
• Applications which include traditional videoconferencing activities as the primary element are unlikely to be acceptable for this years funding, but studies of high quality multicast video over packet-switched networks will be of interest
• Projects should be for one year's duration and should not exceed 100k
  

Only a limited number of teams will be invited to submit full proposals. These teams will be chosen on the basis of a one page submission, detailing their suitability to carry out this research activity.

Teams who would be interested in submitting technical proposals based on the criteria listed above should initially submit only a one page document indicating the following:-

• The name and address of the coordinating institution
• The name, telephone, fax and e-mail addresses of the coordinating academic
• A title and brief outline of the project
• The physical infrastructure available to support networked applications research using SuperJANET
• Experience and track record of developing applications on networks
• Evidence of previous collaborative projects on networks research - either with other academic institutions or with industry
• Linkage with existing Funding Council and JISC initiatives (eg TLTP, Libraries, New Technologies Initiative, High Performance Computing etc.)
  

Initial submissions in excess of one A4 sheet will not be accepted. The submissions should be sent to Ron Rogerson, JISC Secretariat, Northavon House, Bristol, BS16 1QD arriving no later than 5 January 1996.

The teams selected to offer full proposals will be notified by 12 February 1996 and final proposals will be requested by 23 February 1996.