Brussels, 20 May 2005

China and France have taken a step towards greatly enhanced cooperation in the field of middleware technologies and distributed systems with the signing on 15 May of a memorandum of understanding between two of the countries' leading technical research institutes.

Middleware is also referred to as 'plumbing' due to its primary role in connecting two otherwise separate applications and passing data between them. This category of software is regarded as a key enabling technology for the development of services such as e-commerce, e-government and e-leaning, as well as the telecommunications and finance industries.

The memorandum of understanding was signed between the French national institute for research in computer science and control (INRIA) and the Guangzhou Middleware Research Centre (GMRC). Specifically, INRIA and the GMRC will enhance cooperation by:

- facilitating technology exchanges between France and China in the areas of middleware and distributed systems;
- developing and conducting research projects of mutual interest by bringing together scientists from France and China;
- contributing to the training of students and specialists from both countries, notably in the form of exchange programmes for researchers and students;
- facilitating the introduction of the results of collaboration into the global middleware communities;
- promoting the use of open source middleware in Asia.

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In addition, the two partners will create a Sino-French R&D centre in middleware and distributed systems on the premises of GMRC. The centre will launch research projects of mutual interest and cooperate with other institutions in France and China, organise the exchange of researchers between the two partners, and develop strategies for the exploitation of research results.

Cai Gang Qiang, general manager of Guangzhou Science and technology Bureau, said: 'Telecommunication and information technology are strategically important for Guang Dong's economy. [...] GMRC is our strategic investment in advanced software technologies research and development. We hope the cooperation between GMRC and INRIA will play a key role in promoting middleware research and cooperation between China and France.'

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For further information, please consult the following web addresses:

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