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Alberta and IBM research aim to make organizations more innovative and effective


WEBWIRE

Edmonton-based IBM Centre for Advanced Studies expands focus with “Services Science”

January 27, 2006, Edmonton... Giving business a competitive edge through information technology is the focus of a new research program at the IBM Centre for Advanced Studies in Alberta. The centre is expanding its focus to include Services Science research to help organizations better integrate their business processes, workforce, and information and communications technology infrastructure.

The IBM Centre for Advanced Studies opened in 2005 as a collaborative effort between the Government of Alberta, IBM and the University of Alberta. Services Science research will build on the centre’s current focus areas of machine learning, nanotechnology and biological simulation.

Successfully integrating technology within business processes can create significant efficiencies and help organizations become more competitive. Services Science takes into account the business models, processes, strategies and workforce management methods that are involved in this integration process.

“The science of IT service delivery can help Alberta businesses become more effective competitors in the global economy,” said Victor Doerksen, Minister of Innovation and Science, who was in California to promote research and development and technology collaboration. “This is an excellent example of the innovative projects underway at IBM’s Centre for Advanced Studies at the University of Alberta. The agreement to launch the Centre was signed during the 2005 mission to California, and it has provided a strong foundation for new collaborations between industry, academia and government.”

Services Science research brings together the University of Alberta’s considerable experience and skills in areas such as computing science, business, engineering and law with IBM’s access to world-class industry-focused talent, leading edge technology and global collaborative opportunities.

“This research partnership will help make Alberta-based businesses more competitive and equip university students with skills they need to succeed in their future careers,” said Ms. Bernie Kollman, Vice President, Public Sector Alberta for IBM. “As one of four Centres for Advanced Studies in Canada, IBM CAS Alberta is an example of IBM’s commitment to driving collaborative research among academia, government and industry.”

“We are delighted to undertake this new research direction,” said Dr. Gary Kachanoski, Vice-President (Research) at the University of Alberta. “It underlines the importance of transferring our researchers’ cutting-edge technology to the marketplace in a timely and effective manner.”

The estimated project cost is $70,000. The Alberta government will contribute $32,000, with IBM contributing $35,000 and the University of Alberta contributing $3,000 including in-kind contributions.

IBM CAS Alberta is the first Centre for Advanced Studies to be located in Western Canada. It is part of a worldwide network of IBM Centres, in Amsterdam, (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain), Boblingen (Germany), Dublin (Ireland), Raleigh (North Carolina), Hawthorne (New York), Ottawa, Austin (Texas), Bangalore (India), Australia, Toronto and Victoria.



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