THE CAMBRIDGE-MIT INSTITUTE

                      KNOWLEDGE INTEGRATION COMMUNITIES

                              CONNECTED WORLDS:

1 THE COMMUNICATIONS INNOVATION INSTITUTE



CII: Understanding Tomorrow's ICT Needs Today

The Communications Innovation Institute (CII) is a bold venture in
knowledge exchange, launched by world-class researchers at the University
of Cambridge, MIT, University College London and BT Exact at Adastral Park
to develop a dynamic roadmap of the telecommunications industry in the
United Kingdom.


Encompassing an integrated set traditional scientific research projects
examining the future architecture of the Internet, next-generation wireless
telecommunications and low-cost optical devices, CII also includes an
innovative collaboration between academia and industry that will identify
and address potential obstacles to progress in the fast-changing
telecommunications field.  Designed to bring together policy researchers,
economists, computer scientists and engineers - with the active
participation of the business community and public agencies - CII will
create a sustainable industrial partnership that explores the drivers of
change in the communications industry.  Together with University College
London, CMI@Adastral Park and UCL@Adastral, tailored educational programmes
will be offered that prepare the next generation of communication
professionals for the future of the UK telecommunications sector.


The Research Programme

Two principal research objectives will be achieved through CII's efforts to
promote the overall progress and vitality of the communications industry:


A better understanding of the value chain of the telecommunications
industry, resulting in roadmaps to possible futures.  This research will
inform investment decisions by large-scale operating companies and will
clarify opportunities present in the value chain for SMEs and
entrepreneurial newcomers.

   

The demonstration of new enabling and disruptive technologies that have the
power to transform the communications sector as it becomes ever less
hierarchical and more distributed.  This research stream examines the core
technologies of tomorrow's communications infrastructure - wireless, fibre,
and digital signal processing - that can redefine commercial opportunities
for industry as well as government telecommunications policy.


Four dynamic and interlinked research initiatives - impacting Regional
Economic and Innovation Strategies across the UK - will be carried out to
achieve these objectives and to develop roadmaps for individual components
of the fast-changing ICT sector:

The impact of deregulated spectrum for broadband wireless users;

New architectural paradigms for the Internet, enabling new methods of
transmission such as sensors and ubiquitous computing devices to move
forward;

Development of low-cost optics (including fibre-optic radio transmission)

Development of new methods for content distribution.


Each research strand actively solicits interest and participation from
individual businesses, large and small, as well as RDAs and other
government agencies whose work is impacted by changing communications
technologies.  Overall, CII will test interdisciplinary approaches to the
problems of the communications industry and will formulate policy
alternatives informed by the latest technological research.


Getting Involved: Commercial and Public Engagement

Key to the CII vision is a strong partnership with industry and RDAs, not
just for the dissemination of academic results, but to foster research
collaboration and two-way communication.  ICT companies of all sizes are
the lynchpin of CII's roadmapping project, providing crucial input on
research priorities and benefiting from the proposals and solutions that
emerge as a result.


Individual Regional Development Agencies will want to join the CII
industrial consortium in order to guarantee ground-level participation in
the mapping of the future of telecommunications in the UK.


Preparing for the future: Educational Programmes

Building on a strong partnership between Cambridge, MIT and University
College London, a new interdisciplinary Masters-level degree in the
Internet Economy will be offered at UCL's School of Public Policy beginning
in 2004/5.  Opportunities exist for RDAs and HEIs in other regions to take
advantage of this course and to build collaborative ventures and offerings
with the Communications Innovation Institute.


CII: Promoting Innovation in Knowledge Exchange

Knowledge exchange lies at the heart of the CII vision.  The holistic model
that lies at the core of the Institute places consortium members at the
centre of the experimental arena, ensuring broad interaction and
collaboration across the traditional academic-industry divide.  An
innovative coalition of partners from diverse industrial sectors, including
SMEs and large corporations from around the United Kingdom, will be both
the supporters and beneficiaries of the work.  Effective two-way
communication, based on the Communications Futures model developed at MIT,
will ensure hard-hitting results.



For more information on participating in the CII project, please contact:


Dr Adam Marshall                  (temporary until project manager hired)

Business Development Manager

University of Cambridge

16a Mill Lane

Cambridge

CB2 1SB


Tel. +44 (0)1223 765441

Fax +44 (0)1223 765410

ajbm2@cam.ac.uk