UK-India network research collaboration

A consortium co-led by

has received funding to establish the first-ever

which will investigate computer networks.

The funding, from the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), comes as part of the India-UK Advanced Technology Centre (IU-ATC) of Excellence in Next Generation Networks led by BT Group.

The IU-ATC will conduct research into fixed-wireless networks, fault-tolerant communications infrastructures and networked ICT systems and applications between both countries.

The lead academic investigators are Prof Gerard Parr from Ulster's Faculty of Computing and Engineering and Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras.

Professor Parr said: ‘As part of this project, the IU-ATC has already attracted and committed over $3m (£1.58m) to create opportunities for 23 PhD scholarships and 16 industrial internship positions between the consortium partners in both countries over the next four years.’

Parr has also received an invitation from the Department of Telecommunications of the Indian government to participate in a high-level roundtable discussion during India Telecom 2007 this week when he will share his vision and strategies for the IU-ATC.