Academic network coordination policies: An outsider's view

Abstract

This short paper contrasts the interests of academic and commercial users of national and international networking. It highlights the lessons which can be drawn from the experience of each group. The paper categories networking into three classes, and strongly argues that funding and support for “networking to support other research activities” (research networking), should be separated from “research into networking itself” (networking research). It suggests national and international research networking should be supported on a quasi-commercial (but non-profit) basis, drawing on the lessons already learnt in commercial networking