Dear Mr Rumbelow,
Since 1982, the Institute for New Generation Computer Technology (ICOT) has been conducting the Fifth Generation Computer Systems (FGCS) Project.
This project was concluded in 1992 after achieving its initial goal, and was succeeded by the two-year Follow-on Project having the aim of disseminating FGCS technology by making major software products of the FGCS Project operational on commercially available computers. Now we are sure that we can successfully finish the Follow-on Project in March 1995. After that, we will cease all ICOT research activities and close the Research Center.
In December 1988, Dr Timothy Walker and I exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding in Tokyo, representing the Department of Trade and Industry and ICOT, respectively. The aim of the Memorandum has been to facilitate the sending of British researchers by the Information Engineering Directorate (IED) to ICOT. We are convinced that the Memorandum has certainly contributed to vitalize various kinds of significant interactions between the two countries, including two DTI-SERC-ICOT symposia held in 1989 and 1990.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the Memorandum, however, we have to propose now, i.e. six months in advance, to terminate this Memorandum simultaneously with the closing of the ICOT Research Center.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for the friendship and support you have extended to ICOT. It is our hope that the Department of Trade and Industry will maintain close ties with the computer research community of Japan, where the ICOT scientists will continue their work in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Hiroichi Hiroshige