by STU and the creation of SICS. In addition, private companies have made significant 
efforts e.g., IBM. 

3.5 Economics 

As pointed out above, Japanese manufacturers have got the opportunity to go 
from the PIM prototypes to competitive massive parallel computers with more market 
hardware and software. Although such a move involves more than technical aspects,
this economical opportunity is a pleasant spin-off from the FGCS project. 

3.6 Public relations 

We have seen and will see many press reports on the FGCS project. Some may 
be somewhat superficial as the article in the International Herald Tribune, the other 
day. Some will be more sophisticated as the two consecutive editorials in the New 
York Times, some time ago, interpreting the FGCS project not only as a success but 
recommending that the US should learn from this project and launch a new industrial 
policy for its computer industry. This recommendation is, of course, equally valid for 
Europe. In general, the results of the FGCS project are not yet fully understood and 
appreciated, and we would benefit from a better understanding of the achievements of 
the FGCS project. 

4 A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS 

Japan has set the stage for future research based on the success of the FGCS project. 
I shall only briefly mention some potentials for an international cooperation based on 
the Japanese results and the international results, in particular, from the many re-
sponses to the FGCS project around the world. 

There are several interesting subject matters e.g., from parallel inference machines 
to advanced AI via programming methodology. Logic programming would be helpful 
to strengthen the coherence of such an effort. This research paradigm was considered 
the most powerful for the FGCD project. I do not think it has been replaced, new 
projects would energize the original vision and be a challenge for the new millenium. 

Some principal areas would be: 

parallel inference machines; 
software methodology e.g., specifications, transformations and 
verifications; 
software development methodology; 
artificial intelligence methodology; 
advanced applications. 



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