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AITEC Research Funding Program for brushup IFS/Extended IFS in FY 1998 |
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A I T E C
Contract Research Project Announcement for
Brushup for IFS/Extended IFS Fiscal 1998
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1. Introduction
---------------
The Research Institute for Advanced Information Technology (AITEC) of
the Japan Information Processing Development Center (JIPDEC) has been
disseminating the fifth-generation computer technology that was
developed in the "Fifth Generation Computer Systems (FGCS) Project
(1982-1992)", and the "FGCS Follow-on Project (1993-1995)" that were
mainly carried out by the Institute for New Generation Computer
Technology (ICOT).
ICOT released ICOT Free Software (IFS), then AITEC also released it in
fiscal 1996. This advanced software resource has been enriched by
AITEC's contract research project since fiscal 1996. The software
developed under AITEC's contract research project is called "Extended
IFS".
In fiscal 1998, AITEC is inviting proposals for brushup IFS and
extended IFS.
Brushup IFS and extended IFS means:
* Improvement of operability of software
* Expansion of user's manual and/or examples
* Improvement of document explaining the program and/or its
algorithms
The aim of the brushup is to improve the accessibility of the software
and hence promote its use, not only in research but also for practical
applications, education and so forth.
Please note that the contract research project for fiscal 1998 is
quite different from those up until the last fiscal year. Contractors
may do research and improve the functionality of the software, but the
main purpose of the contract research project is to improve the
accessibility of the software.
Applicants need not to be researchers who developed the software
originally, need not be Japanese, and need not be residents in Japan.
AITEC will make an archive for the improved software that will be made
during this fiscal year, namely, IFS and extended IFS. AITEC will open
the archived software to the public as soon as possible.
The Department of FGCS Technology that handles the contract research
project is planned to be disbanded at the end of this fiscal year.
Thus, the contractor will be expected to submit improved software and
related documents no later than the end of January 1999.
2. Instructions for Proposal Preparation
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Your proposals should be received by AITEC no later than:
26th June, 1998 Friday (JST)
----------------------------
All submissions should be made by e-mail.
2.1 Who may apply
-----------------
Researchers who will make the software available within the designated
period under the terms and conditions similar to IFS can submit
proposals. Please refer to
http://www.icot.or.jp/AITEC/IFS/list/using-IFS-E.html
for the terms and conditions, or contact us to obtain them.
Applicants need not be researchers who developed the software
originally, need not be Japanese, and need not be residents in Japan.
2.2 Software to be improved
---------------------------
All software that AITEC has released are targets for brushup.
Please refer to
http://www.icot.or.jp/AITEC/IFS/list/catalogue-E.html
http://www.icot.or.jp/AITEC/IFS/list/catalogue-rest-E.html
http://www.icot.or.jp/AITEC/FGCS/funding/itaku-H7-index-E.html
http://www.icot.or.jp/AITEC/FGCS/funding/itaku-H8-index-E.html
http://www.icot.or.jp/AITEC/FGCS/funding/itaku-H9-index-E.html
for IFS, and software developed under AITEC's contract research
projects.
2.3 Number of research contracts to be awarded
----------------------------------------------
In fiscal 1998, we will support approximately 15 projects.
2.4 Scope and type of support
-----------------------------
(1) Approximately 1,500,000 Japanese Yen will be given to each of the
supported projects. This award will be provided in Japanese Yen,
and shall include all overheads for the university, if necessary.
(2) The contractor will be contacted in due course concerning the
method of payment and handling of resulting software.
(3) Only one-year projects will be accepted.
(4) The contractor is requested to agree with publicly release the
software by AITEC under the terms and conditions similar to ICOT
Free Software (IFS); the copyright of the portion of the software
that the contractor improves remains with the contractor, or a
person designated by the contractor. Please refer to
http://www.icot.or.jp/AITEC/IFS/list/using-IFS-E.html
for the terms and conditions for IFS, or please contact us to
obtain them.
2.5 Obligations of the Contractor
---------------------------------
(1) An intermediate progress report of about 250 words in English must be
sent to AITEC around the end of October 1998 (the precise deadline
will be informed later) by e-mail. This report should include:
* Purpose
* Research method
* Intermediate results
* Future plan for this fiscal year
(2) The project final report of about 10 - 15 pages written in English
must be sent to AITEC by the end of January 1999. The report
should be sent by e-mail. The resulting software and files such as
README, user manuals, and installation manuals should be sent to
AITEC by ftp.
The deadline for submitting the software must be strictly
observed.
Copyright of the report shall be transferred to AITEC and the
Mechanical Social Systems Foundation, while the copyright of the
software will remain with the contractor or a person designated by
the principal investigator.
(3) A plan of expenses must be sent to AITEC. Contractors are expected
to follow the expense guidelines that will be informed later.
(4) Accounts must be kept and copies of receipts retained, and must be
sent to AITEC by the end of February 1999.
(5) In addition to the above, the state of progress of research and so
forth must be reported to AITEC if requested.
2.6 Period of support
---------------------
Research period for the awarded projects will be start from June 16,
1988 till January 31, 1999. Expences on the research activity for the
project in this period is permitted. Thus, the period of support is
from June 16, 1998 to 31st January, 1999.
3. Proposal Processing
----------------------
Proposals will be reviewed and awards will be determined by the
refereeing committee.
Notification will be made by
6 July, 1998 Monday (JST)
by e-mail.
The criteria by which the proposals will be judged are the following:
(1) Effects of the brushup
(2) Attraction of the software
(3) Suitability of the research plan and project participants for
developing the resulting software
4. Submission of Proposals
--------------------------
All proposals must be written using the prepared proposal form
attached at the end of this article and sent to
* Akira Aiba (aiba@icot.or.jp)
* Tomoaki Moro (moro@icot.or.jp)
by e-mail no later than
26 June, 1998 Friday (JST)
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5. Proposal Form for FY 1998
----------------------------
Please fill in the Proposal Form according to the following
guidelines, and send it by e-mail.
(1) Principal investigator
Fill in the name and address of the principal investigator.
(2) Contractor
If requesting some other person to make the contract with us,
fill in the name and address of the contractor.
(3) Name of the software to be improved
Fill in the name of the software that you will brush up, and
select one of the following categories to which the software
belongs:
* IFS
* Software of AITEC's contract research project in FY 1995
* Software of AITEC's contract research project in FY 1996
* Software of AITEC's contract research project in FY 1997
(4) Project participants, research method, schedule
Fill in the names, affiliations, and mail addresses of project
participants. Describe the research method and research
schedule as specifically as possible.
(5) Results of the brushup
Select at least one of the following issues that you will
improve and describe the contents:
* Improvement of operability of software
- such as improvement of user interface
* Expansion of user's manual and/or examples
* Improvement of document explaining program and/or its
algorithms
If you wish to investigate improving the software, select the
following in addition and describe the contents:
* Improvement of functionality of the software
(6) Basis of compensation
This research contract shall provide approximately 1,500,000
Japanese Yen. Please fill in the amount of money required for
each item, and how you intend to use the money. Please include
all of the overheads for the university, etc. in
"Miscellaneous Expenses."
(7) Submission of Proposals
Send your proposal to
* Akira Aiba (aiba@icot.or.jp)
* Tomoaki Moro (moro@icot.or.jp)
at AITEC, FGCS Department by e-mail no later than
26 June, 1998 Friday (JST)
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Research Proposal Form
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Date: XX June, 1997
1. Principal Investigator
-------------------------
Organization:
Address of the organization:
Title:
Name:
Contact
Address:
Tel:
Fax:
E-mail:
2. Contractor (if necessary)
----------------------------
Organization:
Address of the organization:
Title:
Name:
Contact
Address:
Tel:
Fax:
E-mail:
3. Name of the software to be improved
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(1) Name of the software:
(2) Category of the software: Select one of the following.
[ ] IFS
[ ] Software of AITEC's contract research project in FY 1995
[ ] Software of AITEC's contract research project in FY 1996
[ ] Software of AITEC's contract research project in FY 1997
4. Project participants, research method, schedule
--------------------------------------------------
(1) Project participants
| Name | Affiliation | E-mail address | |
| Principal investigator | |||
| Collaborating researchers |
% Please add extra lines for collaborating researchers.
(2) Research method
(3) Research schedule
5. Results of the brushup
--------------------------
(1) Select at least one of the following issues that you will improve
and describe the contents (about half a page for each):
[ ] Improvement of operability of software
- such as improvement of user interface
[ ] Expansion of user's manual and/or examples
[ ] Improvement of document explaining program and/or its
algorithms
(2) Specify the anticipated users, and describe why the software will
be attractive for those users (about half a page):
(3) If you wish to investigate improving the software, select the
following in addition and describe the contents (about half a
page):
[ ] Improvement of functionality of the software
6. Basis of compensation
------------------------
| Item | Amount | Basis | Remarks |
| Personnel | |||
| Travel | |||
| Material Purchases (books, reports, etc.) |
|||
| Consumables | |||
| Miscellaneous |
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Contact -------------- Please contact the following regarding this contract research: Research Institute for Advanced Information Technology (AITEC) Shiba Tokyo Kaijo Bldg. 2F 3-3 Shiba 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0014 Japan Tel: +81-3-3456-2514 Fax: +81-3-3455-4877 Akira Aiba (aiba@icot.or.jp) for research contents Tomoaki Moro (moro@icot.or.jp) for contract procedure