UK and Indian governments, scientists and industrial engineers are embarking on a £9m 'Next Generation Networks' project to bring online education, healthcare and early warning weather/natural disaster systems to remote areas in both countries.
Part-funded by Research Councils UK (RCUK) Digital Economy Programme and led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the five-year collaboration will establish a virtual research centre to look for solutions from emerging and existing technologies
Technology such as wireless sensor networks could be used to deliver healthcare where resources are limited and automatically deliver real time data in areas such as pollution and seismic activity.
The project will also examine how existing IT infrastructure like copper cable networks can perform better, how to best set up new optical infrastructure and implement UK broadband technology across India.
John Hand, EPSRC Head of Digital Economy said: "Next generation networks will be the new building blocks of the future digital economy. Both UK and India are looking to the future, to develop economies based around skilled, high value industries. This also offers a great opportunity for UK business in what is still a growing market."
The project grant comprises £2.5m from the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Digital Economy Programme, led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and funded by the UK Government through DIUS (UK Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills). This has been matched by £2.5m from Indian Government's Department of Science and Technology (DST). A further £4m is being provided by a consortium of academic and industrial partners.
Professor Gerard Parr from the University of Ulster is the lead UK academic on the project and BT is the lead UK company. India has an estimated 50m internet users, with 3.3m in rural areas.
Notes for editors:
For more information on the IU-ATC (India-UK Advanced Technology Centre) http://www.iu-atc.com
The consortium consists of leading universities in UK and Institutes in India, and companies from both countries. These include the industrial lead BT, Infosys, Wipro, Sasken, Midas and Tejas. The University of Ulster in Northern Ireland is lead UK institution, and Surrey, University College London, Southampton, Bristol, St Andrews, Lancaster, Cambridge and Queen Mary are also participants. 5 leading Indian Research Institutes are taking part – IIT Madras as the lead Indian institute, Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur and IISc Bangalore. A number of SMEs are also involved.
For further information contact:
University of Ulster Press Office
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BT Press Office
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EPSRC Press Office
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pressoffice@epsrc.ac.uk
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. The EPSRC invests around £800 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone's health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC also actively promotes public awareness of science and engineering. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. www.epsrc.ac.uk/
Digital Economy is an RCUK cross-research council programme, aimed at realising the transformational impact of ICT for all aspects of business, society and government. EPSRC is working closely with Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council and Arts and Humanities Research Council to deliver the programme.
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