To Accelerate Development of the Fundamental Information Technology of the Next Generation

Katsusada Hirose Director-General, Machinery and Information Industries Bureau Ministry of International Trade and Industry

A great number of technological advances made during the 20th century influence our society. The computer was, and continues to be, undoubtedly the most influential invention affecting modern society. Today, computers are integral parts of our daily lives, so much so that people would be hard pressed to live without them.

Information processing technologies, in particular, computer technologies which support the present information-oriented society will possibly be capable of flexible learning and adaptability like humans, and become able to handle extremely complicated phenomena consisting of numerous elements in the next century when our information-oriented society becomes more matured.

In 1992, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) the ｳReal World Computing (RWC) Project,ｲ a ten-year program to establish an information processing system to cope with real-world information. From 1992 to 1996, the project was dedicated for explorative research activities. The first five years were for extensive fundamental research in the fields of Theory and Novel Functions, Massively Parallel Systems, and Optical Systems. The projectｹs goal for the second half, starting in 1997, was decided by the Evaluation and Promotion Committee meeting in the spring of 1996.

The Committee decided to funnel resources into two areas; Real World Intelligence (RWI) and Parallel and Distributed Computing (PDC). The results of the second phase of the project, "Fundamental Information Technology of the Next Generation," are expected to be significant.

The field of information technology is expected to make great progress. Under such circumstances, I sincerely hope that this project will make a significant contribution to the development of global information technology by establishing key fundamental technologies and suggesting future information processing technology.

MITI will support this project, however, its success or failure rests entirely on the ambition and dedication of all the researchers involved.

I wish you continued success in your research activities.