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Japan Science and Technology Agency to develop new network
From: David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1993 19:12:44 -0400
From: Dr. David K. Kahaner US Office of Naval Research Asia (From outside US): 23-17, 7-chome, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106 Japan (From within US): Unit 45002, APO AP 96337-0007 Tel: +81 3 3401-8924, Fax: +81 3 3403-9670 Email: kahaner () cs titech ac jp Re: Science and Technology Agency to develop new network 7 Oct 1993 This file is named "sta-net.93" ABSTRACT. Plans, by the Science and Technology Agency (STA), to develop a new, 6Mbps optical fiber electronic network connecting about 100 major governmental research laboratories under various ministries and agencies, at a cost of 4-5 billion yen (US$40 - 50 million) over three years. The following material was prepared by the Tokyo Office of the US National Science Foundation. Many thanks to the Director, Dr. L.Weber, and Mr. M.Miyahara, Scientific Affairs Advisor. STA TO DEVELOP AN INTER-AGENCY RESEARCH INFORMATION NETWORK INTRODUCTION Japan's Science and Technology Agency (STA) has proposed development of a high speed "inter-agency information network" connecting about 100 major governmental research laboratories under various ministries and agencies. The proposed initiative calls for funding of 4-5 billion yen (US$40 - 50 million) over three years to implement a 6 megabits per second (Mbps) backbone network based on optical fiber networks transacting the nation from north to south for electronic communications, file transfers, accessing databases and for remotely sharing supercomputers and other computer-based resources available in the national research institutes. The proposed inter-agency network would also be connected at three points (Tokyo, Osaka and Tsukuba) with the existing Science Information Network (SINET) of the National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS) of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, thereby enabling direct electronic exchanges between university scientists and researchers in government labs. Moreover, plans include eventually connecting the new inter-agency network to NSFNET or other backbone networks in the United States, as well as with research networks in other foreign countries. [See earlier reports of mine on networking in Japan, for example, "japan.net", 16 July 1992. For discussion of NTT, see "ntt-rev.93", 23 Feb 1993, "ntt-r-d.993", 19 Sep 1993, or "isr.93", 8 Sep 1993, DKK.] The new initiative is being promoted in Japan for the following reasons: 1. The rapid advance of science and technology and greater emphasis on basic research calls for increased interaction and closer cooperation of researchers across inter-disciplinary, inter-agency, inter-institutional and inter-national boundaries. 2. Greatly enhanced computer capabilities have increased the potential roles for computers in R&D activities and the need for researchers to have better access to computers and database resources. 3. The long-standing international imbalance in the flow of information in science and technology between Japan and other countries calls for efficient and effective networks for information exchange. STA has included about 1.1 billion yen (about US$10 million) in its fiscal 1994 budget proposal to cover the first year's expenditure of the 3-year project. EVENTS IN RETROSPECT In June 1992, the Management and Coordination Agency of the Prime Minister's Office issued a report pointing out that much of the research data and information accumulated in government laboratories had been confined within the individual laboratories or institutes concerned and was not accessible by researchers from outside organizations. The report recommended that steps be taken to develop an inter-agency research information network to promote efficient and effective communications and exchanges of data among scientists across traditional inter-agency, inter-sectorial and inter-national boundaries. In November 1992, an STA survey found that 80% of researchers in government laboratories think that it is crucial for the government to develop the basic infrastructure for efficient data communications and greater access to computers and other computer-based resources throughout the government laboratories. In June 1993, a 10-member study mission representing the following agencies was sent to the United States: Science and Technology Information Division, Science and Technology Agency (STA) Science Information Division, Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Monbusho) National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS) Electronics Industry Division, Ministry of nternational Trade and Industry (MITI) Technology Research Division, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), MITI Electrotechnical Laboratory, AIST/MITI Technology Policy Division, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) Communications Laboratory, MPT Japan Information Center of Science and Technology (JICST) Institute for Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) The study mission called on NSF, OSTP, Sprint-Net, NIH, NLM, NASA, IBM Watson Labs, and AT&T Bell Labs to learn first-hand about various network systems and projects in the United States and about how various U.S. agencies and the private sector are cooperating to develop advanced research networks in the United States and for connection with foreign countries. Also in June 1993, the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology, the highest advisory body of the government for S&T policy formulation, established a subcommittee on "research information networks," with the following individuals appointed as members: Dr. Wataru Mori Member, Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology (Former president of the University of Tokyo) Mr. Hiroyuki Osawa Member, Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology (Former Vice Minister, Science and Technology Agency) Dr. Hiroshi Inose Director, National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS) Mr. Takeo Miura Vice President, Hitachi Ltd. Mr. Junichiro Miyazu Vice President, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Co.(NTT) The subcommittee has met three times to hear the views of experts and representatives of concerned organizations. Officials of 13 different government ministries and agencies concerned with network issues are also invited to the subcommittee's meetings. The subcommittee, which is currently drafting an interim report, is expected to ultimately call for prompt action by the government to develop inter-agency research information networks and associated databases. In view of the subcommittee's discussions to date, and researchers' responses to its survey, STA has gone ahead with an FY1994 budget request of 1.1 billion yen as part of the so-called "Special Coordination Funds for the Promotion of Science and Technology" for the specific purpose of building an inter-agency backbone information network in Japan. The proposed budget is, of course, subject to approval by the Finance Ministry and by the National Diet. OUTLINE OF THE NETWORK INITIATIVE If approved, STA will implement an inter-agency backbone information network of up to 6 Mbps to inter-connect about 100 major government research laboratories in the country with optical fiber networks to be leased from commercial vendors such as NTT. STA intends to develop an interagency network very similar in function to the "Interagency Interim NREN" (rather than the more advanced "Gigabit R&D Network") in the United States. In addition, STA will support, over a period of five years, the development of integrated databases of basic and factual research data for access through the inter-agency network. While details of the new network initiative will only be decided after formal approval of the fund allocation in June or July 1994, it is expected that the following elements/plans will be included: (1) Development of Inter-agency Research Information Network: During the first year, a backbone research information network of 6 Mbps will be established between Tsukuba Science City and Tokyo. Optical fiber networks leased from commercial vendors (such as NTT) will be utilized for database services, electronic mail, electronic bulletin board services and remote use of computer centers. In ensuing years, the network will be extended to the Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto) and other geographic areas. The backbone network will be inter-connected at Tsukuba, Tokyo and Osaka with the existing Science Information Network (SINET) of the National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS), an inter- university institute under the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. The link to SINET will interconnect the system with nearly 200 universities and other academic research institutes in Japan. All costs for leasing and maintaining the optical network will be financed under the project for the first 3 years, so that no fees would be charged for use of the backbone network by any government laboratories or their researchers. It is anticipated that necessary government funds will be secured under regular budget categories to support the network beyond the initial 3-year period. Although the national backbone research information network will be designed primarily for use by researchers in government laboratories, STA is also considering its use by university scientists (via SINET) and by researchers in the private sector wanting to communicate with government researchers or gain access to databases and other computer-based resources available in government institutes and universities. Naturally, any use of databases and other computer-based resources would be guided by the rules and regulations established for each database or computer center concerned. (2) International Connection: STA plans to send a mission to the United States early in the first project year (FY 1994) to seek assistance from NSF and other US government agencies to connect the new Japanese network with NREN or NSFNET in the United States, and with networks in other foreign countries. (3) Development of Network Tools: As part of the network development initiative, support will be provided for developing user-friendly "tools" (software) for network applications, as well as for conducting special studies on the status and prospects of network application technologies, including those for video and multi- media database services. (4) Database Development: Along with the development of the backbone inter-agency network, support will be provided, over a period of five years, for the development of various integrated databases on basic and factual research data, such as data on food composition, effects of chemical substances on human health, physical spectral data, and so forth. RELATIONSHIP TO THE "MANDALA PROJECT" The STA initiative to develop an inter-agency research network is not related to the so-called "Mandala Project." The "Mandala Project," promoted by a group of individuals from private companies, universities and local governments, and a few members of the National Diet, aims to develop 10 new supercomputing centers all over Japan which would be inter-connected not only to one another but also to other major computer centers in universities, government labs and industrial R&D centers via optical fiber networks for open use by scientists from all sectors. STA has no plan to support establishment of any new supercomputer centers as part of their network initiative, nor to provide any financial support to the Mandala Project, at this time. [See also my report, "sc-new.93", 26 May 1993, DKK.] FURTHER INFORMATION Questions concerning this inter-agency research information network initiative may be directed to the NSF Tokyo Office or to STA's Science and Technology Information Division.
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- Japan Science and Technology Agency to develop new network David Farber (Oct 11)