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UN and host country linkages

UN and host country linkages

We continue to have good relations with the Macao Government and other local institutions, particularly the Macao Foundation and the University of Macau:

e-Macao Project

This project, described in section *, is a collaboration involving the Macao Government and the University of Macau.

Information Network Centre of Macao (INCoM)

This project with the Macao Foundation was successfully completed in October 2003: see section *. We continue to share the cost of our internet connection with the Macao Foundation.

UNU Research Repository

This on-line repository of research materials is a UNU-wide collaboration, and may later involve other UN agencies: see section *. The Macao Foundation has agreed to share the cost.

Other collaborative projects

Open Source Software

Open Source Software (OSS), such as the Linux operating system and the Apache web server, is rapidly gaining in use and significance. It is of particular relevance to developing countries: its use can make it easier for them to develop software and compete with companies from industrial countries; localisation for local languages, laws, and business rules is easier; and it encourages a trend towards a software service industry rather than a production one. A problem with the general adoption of OSS is that of qualification, of ascertaining the quality of such software. UNU-IIST has proposed and formed a consortium with a number of European partners, both academic and industrial, and we are seeking funding from the European Union to run a project on this problem: see section *. Competition for such funding is intense, but we think our project stands a good chance of success.

Lake Management

The sustainable exploitation of lake basins, both the water and the land draining into them, needs decision support systems (DSSs) that are very expensive to create. Armando Haeberer, following discussions with Ralph Daley, Director of UNU-INWEH, thought it possible to substantially reduce these costs by developing a generic DSS, by gathering a group of computer scientists to work with domain experts. Funding through the World Bank (WB) seemed a good possibility. A small workshop involving a small group of computer scientists who are expert in domain analysis and modelling, and some water domain experts from Canada was held during 6-7 November 2003 in Canada, organised jointly by UNU-INWEH and UNU-IIST. UNU-IIST funded the travel of Chris George, Tom Maibaum and Michael Jackson, and a number of water and IT experts from Canada attended. The objective was to explore the feasibility of a collaborative project and, if thought feasible, identify possible funding agencies and plan the writing and submission of a project proposal.

The workshop was regarded as very successful. It was decided to

• write a project description for first, informal discussions with possible funding agencies

• create a prototype of the design for a later full attempt to gain funding

UNU-INWEH and UNU-IIST also approached UNU HQ for funding for the prototype project under a new scheme announced at UNU Council in December for funding joint activities between UNU RTC/Ps.

UN and host country linkages
List of academic meetings and events	Top	Personnel/staffing situation