AgentLink III: A Coordination Network for Agent-based Computing

Many observers believe that agents represent the most important new paradigm for software development since object-orientation. An agent is a computer system that is capable of flexible autonomous action in dynamic, unpredictable, typically multi-agent domains. Some application domains where agent technologies will play a crucial role include: Ambient Intelligence, the seamless delivery of ubiquitous computing, continuous communications and intelligent user interfaces to consumer and industrial devices; Grid Computing, where multi-agent system approaches will enable efficient use of the resources of high-performance computing infrastructure in science, engineering, medical and commercial applications; Electronic Business, where agent-based approaches are already supporting the automation and semi-automation of information-gathering activities and purchase transactions over the Internet; the Semantic Web, where agents are needed both to provide services, and to make best use of the resources available; Bioinformatics, where intelligent agents may support the coherent exploitation of the data revolution occurring in biology; and others including monitoring and control, resource management, and space, military and manufacturing applications, for example.
AgentLink III will act as a unifying focus for agent-based activities in these different domains. As with AgentLink and AgentLink II, the long-term goal of AgentLink III is to put Europe at the leading edge of international competitiveness in this increasingly important area.

Info

• (funding body) EU Sixth Framework Programme (FP6)
  • (programme) FP6-IST – Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006)
  • (topic) IST-2002-2.3.1.7 – Semantic-based knowledge systems (2002-2006)
  • (funding scheme) CA – Coordination Action
• (project acronym) AgentLink III
  • (project full title) A Coordination Network for Agent-based Computing
• (project no.) IST-1-002006-CA
  • (grant agreement id) 002006
  • (overall budget) 1166163 €
• (CORDIS page) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/002006
  • (official site / obsolete) http://www.agentlink.org
• (start-end dates) 1 January 2004 – 31 January 2006

Partners

• University of Liverpool (UK)
  • Peter McBurney (project coordinator, work packages 8: “Administrative Infrastructure” & 9: “Project Management” coordinator)
  • Wiebe van der Hoek (work package 4: “Student Integration Programme” coordinator)
• University of Southampton (UK)
  • Michael Luck (work package 6: “Technological Roadmap” coordinator)
  • Terry Payne (project coordinator, Work Package 7: “Knowledge Infrastructure” coordinator)
• Whitestein Technologies (Switzerland)
  • Monique Calisti (work package 2: “Standardisation Activity” coordinator)
• Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya (Spain)
  • Steven Willmott (work package 3: “Research Action” coordinator)
• Czech Technical University (Czech Republic)
  • Michal Pechoucek (work Ppackage 1: “Industry Action” coordinator)
• Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna (Italy)
  • Andrea Omicini (UNIBO coordinator, work package 5: “Technical Forum” coordinator)
  • Alessandro Ricci
  • Mirko Viroli
• British Telecomunications PLC (UK)
  • Simon Thompson (work package 1: “Industry Action” assistant)