15 Conclusion
It may be too early to express definite opinions
about the state-of-affairs with respect to software
technology in developing nations. But perhaps
the following, slightly "risky" observations are in order:
- UNU/IIST will try reach both leading edge industries,
universities and research institutes of developing
nations. That is: both technologists,
lecturers and researchers. This span is considerably larger
than what is normal for a university department or a research
institute such as UNU/IIST.
- Even though several developing nations
may feature, claimed impressive activities in software,
UNU/IIST strongly believes that it can help also these activities
to be comparable in quality with the best of the industrial world.
- UNU/IIST has so far emphasized joint activities with
groups in the People's Republic of China. UNU/IIST is, however, for all
of the developing world. UNU/IIST first needs build up successful
experience, and China is close by and forthcoming. To be credible
UNU/IIST must be able to help in China. But UNU/IIST is hard at work
in also engaging partners elsewhere.
- UNU/IIST, at present, insists on joint, and jointly financed,
projects. And UNU/IIST expects partners to contribute hard currency
to UNU/IIST activities in such projects. UNU/IIST expects the
partners to obtain such funding from the international aid and loan
agencies. UNU/IIST can, in general, not obtain grants from such
agencies, and UNU/IIST will, at present, not itself compete for
projects that it honestly believes should be obtained, conceivably with
UNU/IIST as a fully paid sub-contractor, by institutions of
the developing nations.
- UNU/IIST will and cannot engage in competitive bidding for
software development. Firstly: UNU/IIST does not want to become
successful in own sofware development, but instead wishes software
houses of developing nations, perhaps with the help of UNU/IIST,
to become so. Secondly: UNU/IIST has, and cannot, as a UN institution,
have a responsible capital, and can therefore not be liable for any
products it might [co-]develop.9
- UNU/IIST will, in no conflict with the above, vigorously compete
to become a leading consultant to international aid and loan agencies
when- & where-ever they need paid help in evaluating and implementing
software related facets of their programmes and projects.
- UNU/IIST will seek to advice these agencies on its
evaluation of the
quality of the consultancy they may be otherwise receiving.
UNU/IIST is a peer evaluated institute on whose
front-of-the-wave quality its clients should be able to rely!
- UNU/IIST will likewise, when- & where-ever relevant, advice
institutions of the developing nations about UNU/IIST's
evaluation of the quality of the
information technology offers and consultancy they may be receiving
in connection with international aid and loan agency programmes and projects.
The present director of UNU/IIST is, as always, quite optimistic
about future prospects for UNU/IIST.
We believe that UNU/IIST can set an example: that it will
shortly become a recognized, international
force in Computer Science and Software
Technology, and that it will be able to attract the best international
computing scientists and software technologists for 1-2 year
assignments. UNU/IIST intends to focus a significant part
of its hiring policy wrt. academic personnel on
lecturers, researchers and software technologists
from the developing world itself.
We note, with satisfaction, that the research lead by our Principal
Research Fellow, Prof. Zhou Chaochen, on Duration Calculus,
is rapidly attracting wide-spread international attention.
UNU/IIST believe itself unique in its focus on case studies
concerned with the actual development of potentially
large scale software -- but always in tight
co-operation with target partners in developing nations, and
always applying mathematically sound design calculi.
info@iist.unu.edu, March 1993
