From: tomw@ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au (Tom Worthington)
Subject: Update on the $13M Research Data Network CRC for ACS Members
Organization: Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 01:41:53 GMT

Dr. Simon Pelling of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has asked me
to bring members up to date on the Research Data Network Cooperative Research
Centre process. Full proposals for projects must be with the committee by next
Monday, 23 November.

Attached is a scanned copy of the letter (dated 16 November) from the
Cooperative Research Centres Committee. Unfortunately PM&C only sent me a
paper copy of the information and it was not in my hands until last night.

The ACS is delighted to assist PM&C to distribute this information as widely
and as quickly as possible. I understand that no public or press statement
has been made by PM&C. Therefore this document is being distributed
electronically to the IT community using the resources of the Australian
Academic Research network (AARnet) and the press via computer facsimile 
interface.

There has been a considerable level of disquiet amongst members of the
Canberra Branch ofthe ACS and the IT research community generally, over the
manner in which the initial phases of the RDN-CRC process were conducted.
I ask all ACS members to contribute whatever assistance they can to make the
current process a success.

ACS members may have some remaining doubts about the process being used.
However we should no loose sight of the original and worthwhile intention
of the government, which was to upgrade AARnet. Provided this is reflected
in the final RDN-CRC result, the investment of IT professionals time and
of public money will have been worthwhile.



Tom Worthington MACS PCP
Chairman 
THE CANBERRA BRANCH OF 
THE AUSTRALIAN COMPUTER SOCIETY INCORPORATED
G.P.O. Box 446
Canberra A.C.T. 2601
Australia

Ph: +61 6 247 4830 (ACS Office)
Fax: +61 6 249 6419 
E-Mail: tomw@adfa.oz.au
[Scanned in from paper copy, may be errors]

.                               THE DEPARTMENT OF
.                        THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

.                                                       3-5 NATIONAL CIRCUIT
.                                                       BARTON ACT 2600
.                                                       Telephone: (06)2715953
.                                                       Facsimile:(06)2715352
COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES COMMITTEE
CHAIR: PROFESSOR RALPH SLATYER, AO FAA FRS
SECRETARY: DR ANDREAS DUBS                                      


Mr Tom Worthington
Australian Computer Society Inc
GPO Box 446
CANBERRA ACT 2601


Dear Mr Worthington

UPDATE ON THE RESEARCH DATA NETWORK COOPERATIVE
RESEARCH CENTRE (RDN-CRC)

We believe that you may be interested to know the details of the assessment
process that will be adopted for applications for funding as part of the
`networked' RDN-CRC. We refer to it as `networked' because it appears likely 
that this CRC will ultimately consist of several nodes all linked, or 
`networked', together. It is likely that some nodes would also be linked 
with existing or proposed CRCs with complementary research interests.

As you know, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, the Hon. Ross Free, 
announced funding of around $13m for the above-mentioned CRC in the S&T 
White Paper last August. Outline Proposals from 11 organisations have now 
been received; a list of these submissions is attached for your information 
(Attachment A).

All interested parties have to submit full proposals in the usual format 
for CRC applications by 23 November 1992.

An advisory group, consisting of three Expert Panel members and three 
additional members with particular expertise in telecommunication 
technologies, has been formed to examine the applications and to conduct 
interviews on 7 December in Canberra. The list of members of the RDN 
Advisory Group is attached (Attachment B).

The Physical Sciences and Engineering Expert Panel will be presented with 
the RDN Advisory Group's report at a special meeting on 8 December 1992. 
The Panel will then advise the Committee at its meeting on 10 December, when 
advice on third round applicants will also be finalised. The advice on the 
third round applications and the RDN-CRC will then be submitted to the 
Minister Assisting, the Non. Ross Free.


RDNOPEN.DOC
The contact person in this Office for any inquiries regarding the RDN-CRC is 
Dr Simon Pelling on 06-271 5822.

You might feel that this is something the Computer Society would want to 
keep its members informed about. Please feel free to use this information 
(eg in press information or on the network).


Yours sincerely



Simon Pelling 

for Andreas Dubs
16 November 1992

.                                          -2-

.                            RESEARCH DATA NETWORK CRC
.                                                                Attachment A

LIST OF OUTLINE PROPOSALS RECEIVED BY THE CRC SECRETARIAT

(Please note that full proposals must be submitted by 23 November 1992.)
Listed in random order.

Submission #1
Australian Photonics CRC intends to submit an application, covering 
research in the technology and architectures for high speed digital 
photonic networks, led by Professor Rodney Tucker, supported by Dr Simon 
Poole in hardware development projects.

Submission #2
CRC for Intelligent Decision Systems, led by Dr Michael Georgeff intends to 
submit a proposal for an additional research program in the area of Multi-
Media Network Management and Control.

Submission #3
The Narrow Band Working Group led by Mr Albert Langer and involving Dr Roger 
Clarke (ANU) has provided material on possible projects related to the 
upgrade of the AARNet.

Submission #4
Monash University has submitted an outline proposal regarding a research 
program in Video Applications and Network Performance, to be led by 
Professor Fred Symons.

Submission #5
The proposed CRC for Global Intelligent Advanced Network Telecommunications 
Services (GIANTS) has indicated its intention to submit an application for a 
research program to facilitate the upgrade of AARNet to a fully integrated 
broadband communications network.

Submissions #6
Telecom expressed their interest in being involved in the use of FASTPAC to 
upgrade ARRNet and the provision of an Experimental Broadband Network.

Submission #7
The CRC for Cellular Growth Factors outlined a proposal for the 
establishment of an Australian Centre for High Performance Bioinformatics.

Submission #8
Edith Cowan University intends to apply for a Broadband Integrated Service 
Pilot Network, to be associated with the proposed Broadband 
Telecommunications and Networking CRC.

Submission #9
The Royal College of Nursing, Australia, intends to apply for funding for an 
Australian Centre for Coordinating Nursing Research. Use of modem 
information technology would form the basis for improved coordination of 
nursing research in Australia.

Submission #10
The CRC for Distributed Systems plans to apply for funding for bee research 
programs covering resource discovery, distributed multi-media applications, 
and the provision of cooperative working services to research networks.

Submission #11
The proposed CRC in Advanced Computational Systems intends to submit an 
application focussing on distributed high-performance computing and 
distributed interactive multi-media services.

AVCC Submission
The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee will submit a proposal for the 
upgrade of AARNet.

                                                               Attachment B
.
.                       MEMBERSHIP OF RDN ADVISORY GROUP

MEMBERS OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING PANEL

Professor Ian Ross         Chair

Professor Chris Barter

Professor Louis Davies



INVITED EXPERTS

Dr Dennis Cooper       CSlRO Division of Radiophysics

Mr Tony Henshaw        Meridian Information Technologies

Mr Rein Mere           KPMG Peat Marwick