Summer 1988

• Transputer Initiative National Support Centre opened

Transputer Initiative National Support Centre opened

The Joint SERC/Department of Trade and Industry Initiative in the Engineering Applications of Transputers was launched in April 1987. The main objectives of the Initiative are:

• to provide awareness of the potential of the transputer and its associated technology and applications to the solution of problems requiring parallel processing;
• to use expertise within the academic community to develop a viable software base, which is regarded as being essential for the exploitation of parallel processing systems in industry;
• to promote high quality research using transputers;
• to facilitate technology transfer to UK industry.

The National and five Regional Support Centres are now established, including a Regional Centre for Northern Ireland as the result of a special agreement under which the Department of Economic Development will be funding half the Initiative's share. The Centres are located as follows:

National and North East

Sheffield University and Sheffield City Polytechnic

Director: Professor D Lewin

Northern Ireland

Queen's University of Belfast and Ulster University

Director: Dr M E C Hull

North West

Liverpool University

Director: Professor W Eccleston

South, South West and South Wales

Southampton University

Director: Professor A J G Hey

Scotland

Strathclyde University

Director: Professor T Durrant

London and South East

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Director: Dr M R Jane

The National Support Centre, based at the Sheffield Science Park, was officially opened on 7 March 1988 by Mr Robert Jackson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Higher Education and Science. Official openings of the Regional Centres were due to take place during April, May and June.

The Support Centres will each act as a focal point for transputer-related activities in their areas. They will be the prime points for interface between industry and the Initiative, although they will also be available for use by the academic community. They will provide a programme of courses and tutorials; a hands-on service and assistance; and a telephone hot-line 'help' service.

The National Support Centre will fulfil all these functions and will in addition operate a software-exchange library for the Initiative. As groups in the community develop software packages which they are willing to make freely available for R&D purposes, these will be added to the software library. It is envisaged that the provision of maintenance and support will be a matter for negotiation between the originators and the National Centre, while the rights for any commercial exploitations would normally be retained by the originators.

Sheffield City Council is developing the Sheffield Science Park in partnership with English Estates. The Park is supported by central Government and the EEC and is already an active member of the United Kingdom Science Park Association (UKSPA). The Transputer Centre was the Park's first resident. The Science Park's management company reflects the partnership of interest, with representatives from Sheffield City Council. English Estates, Sheffield City Polytechnic, Sheffield University, BSC (Industry) Ltd, ASTMS, Technor Ltd and Midland Bank.

Dr M R Jane, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory