| THIS EXTRACT OF THE DECLARATION OF INTENT SUBMITTED OCTOBER 1993 TO THE INTAS ORGANIZATION IN RESPONSE TO THE CALL 1993 IS MADE ACCESSIBLE VIA GOPHER SERVERS IN MOSCOW AND COPENHAGEN. USAGE IN CONNECTION WITH EmNet/fSU PROJECT PERMITTED. ANY OTHER USAGE, EXCEPT BRIEF CITATIONS WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE SOURCE, ONLY AFTER PERMISSION FROM THE COORDINATOR. -FT/030394 DECLARATION OF INTENT SCIENTIFIC FIELDS: Mathematics, Information Sciences: * TITLE OF THE PROPOSAL: EUROMATH NETWORK AND SERVICES/fSU, first phase (EmNet/fSU/I) DURATION (in months): 15 PROJECT COORDINATOR: Name: Flemming Topsoe Institution: University of Copenhagen Department: Euromath Center Address: Universitetsparken 5 City: 2100-Copenhagen Country: Denmark Telephone: +45 35320732 Telex: - Telefax: +45 35320719 E-Mail: topsoe@euromath.dk PARTICIPANTS FROM THE INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE fSU (with Team Managers) 1. Name: Nikolai N. Repin (EmNet/fSU/I Scientific Coordinator) Institution: Russian Academy of Sciences, Mathematical Branch Departments: Steklov Mathematical Institute, Institute of Numerical Analysis, Telecommunication Center Address: 2012, Leninsky 32a, Moscow, Russia City: Moscow Country: Russia 2. Name: Sergei V. Khrushchev Institution: Russian Academy of Sciences, Mathematical Branch Department: Euler International Mathematical Institute Address: 10, Pesochnaya nab., St.Peterburg, 197022, Russia City: St.Peterburg Country: Russia 3. Name: Leonid Belous Institution: Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Department: Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering Address: 47, Lenin prosp., Kharkov 164, 310164, Ukraine City: Kharkov Country: Ukraine 4. Name: Yurii I. Kuzyakin Institution: Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Division Department: Institute Mathematics and Mechanics Address: 16, ul. Kovalevskoi, Ekaterinburg, 620219, Russia City: Ekaterinburg Country: Russia 5. Name: Sergei V. Znamensky Institution: Krasnoyarsk State University Department: Mathematics and Computer science laboratory Address: 79, pr.Svobody, Krasnoyarsk, 660041, Russia City: Krasnoyarsk Country: Russia 6. Name: Oleg B. Lupanov Institution: Moscow State University Department: Mathematical and Mechanical Department Address: Math. and Mech. Dep., MGU, Lemiskie Gory, Moscow City: Moscow Country: Russia 7. Name: Igor V. Skrypnik Institution: Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Department: Mathematical Branch Address: 54, Vladimirskaya str., Kiev, 252601, Ukraine City: Kiev Country: Ukraine 8. Name: Ivan T. Kiguradze Institution: Math. and Physics Dep., Georgian Academy of Science Department: Mathematical Institute Address: 1, Rukhadze str., Tbilisi, 93, 380093, Georgia City: Tbilisi Country:Georgia PARTICIPANTS OTHER THAN THE PROJECT COORDINATOR FROM THE MEMBER STATES OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION (with Team Managers): 1. Name: James H. Davenport, Helmut Lenzing, John B. Slater, Flemming Topsoe Institution: European Mathematical Trust Department: - Address: The Registry, University of Kent at Canterbury, City: Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ Country: England (pan-European) 2. Name: Mika Seppala Institution: University of Helsinki Department: Laboratory of Computer Aided Mathematics (under formation) Address: University of Helsinki, PO Box 4, Hallituskata 15 City: 00014 Helsinki Country: Finland 3. Name: Robert M. Cailliau Institution: CERN Department: Electronics and Computing for Physics Division Address: CH-1211 Geneve 23 City: Geneve Country: International (Switzerland/France) 4. Name: Joel Greenberg Institution: The Open University Department: Department of Pure Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics Address: Milton Keynes, Bucks MK7 6AA, U.K. City: Milton Keynes Country: England 5. Name: John B. Slater Institution: University of Kent at Canterbury Department: Computing Laboratory Address: University of Kent, City: Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF Country: England A. SCIENTIFIC AREA: Mathematics and Information Technology. Research Infrastructure. The proposal is also relevant for other sciences, in particular engineering and physics. B. SUMMARY During the 4 years of EmNet/fSU, a modern, internationally oriented research infrastructure based on computing and computer networking will be established on fSU territory. This aims, in the first place, at the mathematically oriented sciences. The plans have been prepared through international collaboration since 1988. Only now can they be realized. Considering the strength of mathematical research in all parts of Europe, the expected synergy effect will be pronounced. The declaration concerns the 15 months long first phase which is technology oriented with transfer of know-how and with limited but central implementations of services within communication, document handling, information, databases, directories, and publishing. There are 8 partners from fSU. An aggressive expansion to cover some 70-120 partners from fSU in a second phase will be planned. Services will be especially adapted to the fSU situation (varying from region to region). The project will strive to achieve an economies of scale by exploiting the newest state-of-the-art technology. Special care will be given to create centres and services which can generate a modest income immediately and a more substantial income at the medium and long range (e.g. related to collaboration with industry). This and other aspects of the project are specifically aimed at preventing a further brain drain in the fSU. C. DESCRIPTION OVERALL RATIONALE OF PROJECT The mathematical sciences occupy a strong position in fSU. Until recently, they were not technology dependent. However, with the advent of modern information technology, it is becoming a prerequisit for all scientists to have access to a research infrastructure based on computers and networking. Also, advanced computing is becoming an integral part of many branches of mathematics and is destined to have a significant impact on the conduct of mathematical research itself. The situation represents a challange as well as an opportunity. By introducing modern technology in fSU it will, in principle, be possible to maintain a high scientific level and to prevent further brain drain. It is realized, that though the project proposed in this Declaration of Intent addresses the critical issues indicated above in a well thought out and focused way, the demand is huge and even if successfull, our project can only be seen as a beginning which will require continued funding and continued comprehensive work and collaboration by the European scientific community. Emphasis must be placed on the engagement and contributions by the scientists in the States of the fSU themselves. We have deliberately split our project into two phases. The first, and shorter phase, is more centralized and technology oriented. During this phase, limited end-user oriented services will be developed. Therefore, the results of the first phase will be of value in themselves. Though not formally part of the proposal presented for funding in this Declaration of Intent, we point out that the planned second phase of our project is ambitious in that it will involve some 70-120 research centres in fSU. The necessary planning for this pronounced extension will take place during the first phase. During both phases of EmNet/fSU, centres of expertise of lasting value will be created. The centres will vary greatly in size and specific objectives. However, they will all contain a common kernel of know-how and services which will form part of a pan-European network. Each centre will be placed as an integral part of an active researh environment and will choose its specific areas of interest and activity in accordance with the basis of expertise and interest at the research organization in question. In this way it is hoped to create a base for collaboration with industry and others which will generate an income on a running basis. The activities will be coordinated with similar activities in other parts of Europe. EUROMATH EUROMATH: The pan-European organisation, the European Mathematical Trust (EMT), together with mathematicians from 23 countries and the Euromath Center (EmC) in Copenhagen, have worked to establish a modern research infrastructure for the benefit of mathematicians. The result today is a human network in the countries of the European Community and EFTA, and the development of a central software tool. This concept was presented and the software module, the Euromath System, released on the occasion of the first European Congress of Mathematicians in Paris in July 1992. The human network, the Euromath System and the interplay obtained by exploiting modern communication technology constitute the Euromath Network and Services (EmNet). The EmNet activities up to now have been centred around the Euromath Project, a project sponsored by the European Commission under the SCIENCE Programme. We cite the main objectives of this project: OVERALL EUROMATH OBJECTIVES (from Euromath Policy Document, November 1989): "To provide European mathematicians with a shared, enriched, computing environment tailored to those tasks which arise frequently in their research work (such as exchanging information and ideas, interrogating databases, manipulating symbolic structures and editing complex documents). To stimulate and greatly enhance collaboration and exchange among individuals, not only with the obvious direct benefits but also with the indirect one of nurturing the rising self-consiousness of the European mathematical community." Given the above motivation, and the stated facts and objectives concerning Euromath, it is appropriate to extend the EmNet to fSU and to adapt it to the special needs of fSU. This is one way of formulating the main goal of the current proposal. Since its start, it has been Euromath policy to integrate Central- and Eastern Europe (including fSU) into the Euromath efforts as soon as possible. For Central- and Eastern Europe (excluding fSU, though including the Baltic States) this is pursued with support from the COST Programme of the European Commission. Special promoting- and consolidating activities in Western Europe are presently being presented for support to the VALUE II Programme of the European Commission. With the initiatives taken, we believe it is possible to coordinate the Euromath efforts so that they can be seen as a whole, catalyzing collaboration and scientific progress at the all-European scale. Strong contacts between mathematicians in the West and in fSU have always existed. Special "Euromath contacts" were established in 1988 to representatives of the Russian Academy of Science (RAS) who have since then followed the Euromath progress as observers. The observers (academician Sergei Novikov, professor Alexei Zizcenko and, later, dr. Nikolai Repin) have, right from the start, declared a willingness and interest to spread the idea of Euromath in their part of Europe and within all parts of the academic sector as soon as that would become possible. The Euromath collaboration until now with Russian mathematicians and research institutes was limited and based on minimal funding. With a grant from the Association it will be possible to realize our plans. SELECTION OF PARTNERS Key partners for the planning of the present project proposal have been the Mathematical Branch of the RAS (RAS/MB), European Mathematical Trust (EMT) and Euromath Center (EmC). Jointly we have worked for the selection of the fSU partners. In this respect we point out the following: 1. Last year, the Russian Academy of Sciences formed a policy regarding the implementation of a modern research infrastructure, and decided to base the development on ideas and concrete results already obtained through the collaboration with Euromath colleagues. Reference is made to the important letter annexed as Annex 1, 2. The fSU partners recognize RAS/MB as the leading partner from fSU for the duration of the proposed first phase of our project and RAS/MB have confirmed its policy, interest and obligation towards the project to act in an open non-discriminatory way for the benefit of the entire mathematical community in all parts of the fSU which are eligible for support under the Programme of the Association, 3. The endeavour for the first phase has been to involve only key research centres in fSU which may become the central focal points for the aggressive spread during the second phase to encompass some 70-120 research institutions. As to the selection of partners from the memberstates of the Association, we mention that through EMT, and its member organisations from 23 countries, extensive scientific collaboration is secured. If desirable, this may be formalized in the final application, though we prefer to channel the contacts through EMT and EmC. The Coordinator, EmC, provides the administrative as well as the technical base, including user support and part of the training. The partner from Finland, the Laboratory for Computer assisted Mathematics, is important because of its orientation towards mathematical pure research in relation to mathematicians usage of computers. The Open University and CERN are of course well known institutions and will, together with the University of Canterbury, assist with accomodating mobility and training visits from the fSU. In addition to this it is expected that EmC and CERN will collaborate with RAS/MB to create a Networked Information System especially adapted to the needs in the fSU. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES These may be listed as follows: 1. To enhance the computing and networking environment at the fSU partners, thereby enabling the creation of end-user oriented services, and enabling the integration of fSU into EmNet (Euromath Network and services), 2. To establish services especially tailored to the needs of the fSU mathematical community, e.g. regarding language, documentation and available resources; of particular interest is the creation of an information system, and a base for electronic publishing, 3. To provide the researchers at the fSU-partner institutions with a platform facilitating document preparation and exchange and access to external services such as databases, information systems (cf.2) and computer algebra systems (the key element is installations of the Euromath System), 4. To establish centres as part of EmNet, 5. To prepare for the expansion in phase 2 of the project to 70-120 research institutions. 6. To crate an awareness of the potential of the EmNet/fSU approach among all the sciences in fSU, and to offer preliminary, necessarily limited, assistance. ============================================================================ | |
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