A restrospect on the Future Internet program

Jukka Manner, Aalto University

ICT SHOK on Future Internet

2.5.2012

Disclaimer

This presentation is based on views and opinions from the academic coordinator and academic partners in an ICT SHOK program.

Companies and other programs will have different opinions.

Three parts

1. Background and results

2. A retrospect on the Future Internet program

3. Some thoughts on SHOKs

Fact sheet

• Timeline 1.4.2008-30.4.2012: 4 years

• Total budget: 27M€ (Tekes 60%)

• Work effort done: 230 PY

Topics

1. Routing and data transport – Fixed and mobile networks, multi-path, multi-radio

– Software performance (switch, router)

– Transport algorithms (wireless focus)

– Challenging environments (no infrastructure)

2. Energy-efficiency – Smart phones, Bluetooth, sensors

3. Information-driven networks – Evolution of peer-to-peer

4. Network security – Botnets, unwanted traffic, trust, anomaly detection

Research results

• Total number of publications: 300+

–Conferences, journals: 200

–Standards contributions: 50

–University theses: 50

• Open source software packages: 12

PhD-level results

• During the project:

–14 PhD theses

• Aalto (10), TUT (2), UH (2)

• After the project:

–11 Aalto and one UH PhD theses got the topic and seed funding from FI

Three parts

1. Background and results

2. A retrospect on the Future Internet program

3. Some thoughts on SHOKs

The good

• Contributions to science and standards

–Great number of top publications, SDOs

–Many high-quality contributions to R&D

• Good spirit

• Good level of funding in general

• Very few internal fights

• Freedom in pursuing the agreed goals

• Not overly bureaucratic

The bad • Much work done in solo

– Could have done much better joint work

• Research topics decided by companies – Limits research work to companies’ current focus

• “Game” in proposing academic work – Search and motivate a company sponsor – The more you propose, the more you get after cuts – Either 100-250% increases, or double PY cost

• Many topics only studied for a short time – Unpredictable funding and collaboration

• Problems with publication approval process • WP leadership mostly non-existing

– Exception: Hannu Flinck (NSN), best WP leader by far

Three parts

1. Background and results

2. A retrospect on the Future Internet program

3. Some thoughts on SHOKs

The goal of SHOKs

“Research carried out by the SHOKs is strategic, pre-commercial, and as a rule not associated with short-term market goals. As the time span of research usually is 5 - 10 years at minimum, competitors may take part in the same programmes.”

In good and bad • FI has followed this principle quite well

– Little product-oriented work from researchers themselves

• In some programs, this has not materialized – Short-term topics, tight control over the work, bureaucracy,

strict reporting (worse than EU?) – Partners that can be changed on the fly

• PhD-level high quality results take 4 years – Little long-term planning and resources

• Companies use SHOK funding for their own product-oriented short-term goals – Does not fulfill long-term 5-10 year strategic goals

• Funding is based on company work that can change without prior notice

• FI was abandoned ahead of schedule partly due to too scientific research

Some wishes for SHOKs

• Long-term planning and commitment –2-3 years absolute minimum

• Funding for bottom-up ideas –100% currently decided by companies

• Low overhead in management • SHOKs are not a substitute for company

product development support • Don’t penalize universities when

companies fail

Thank you www.futureinternet.fi

Jukka Manner, Aalto University

ICT SHOK on Future Internet

2.5.2012