The Cambridge-MIT Institute is delighted to announce the establishment of the Communications Research Network (CRN) as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, and welcomes the CRN’s first two Founder Members – BT and Fujitsu.

The Cambridge-MIT Institute is delighted to announce the establishment of the Communications Research Network (CRN) as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, and welcomes the CRN’s first two Founder Members – BT and Fujitsu.

The CRN, which is devoted to researching, mapping and shaping the future of the global communications industry, is incorporating as a company two years after it was first launched by the Cambridge-MIT Institute.

The CRN has been created to:

  • Accelerate the pace of innovation in the communication industry's products, services, standards and regulation
  • Convene diverse groups to address specific challenges and opportunities facing the communications industry
  • Conduct leading-edge research into the impact of emerging communications technologies

The CRN's incorporation builds upon foundations established in 2004 when the Cambridge-MIT Institute brought together pioneering academic researchers, industrialists and high-level policy makers in a unique community.

Over the past two years, the CRN has established a portfolio of dynamic Working Groups covering Innovation in Telecommunications, Spectrum Policy, Interconnection, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Telecoms for Transport, and Photonics, and has attracted over 800 delegates to a series of 8 high-profile events.

The CRN's membership scheme has tiers to suit different organisation's needs:

  • Major companies - such as BT and Fujitsu - wishing to guide research and benefit directly from the results, can join as Founder Members
  • Associate Members participate in events and working groups, and enjoy privileged access to the knowledge generated by the research teams
  • The Academic Membership scheme encourages pioneering researchers around the world to participate in the work of the CRN
  • The CRN maintains strong links with a wide community of organisations through the Observer Membership scheme

CRN Chairman, Dr David Cleevely: "The CRN is a forum for anyone interested in the future of communications. Our multi-disciplinary, cross-sector approach and links with the world's best research institutions leave us uniquely placed to offer our members an international overview of a global industry - a view that will help our members stay ahead of the game. We are delighted to welcome BT and Fujitsu as our first Founder Members, and look forward to welcoming more members to our network in the near future."

The Cambridge-MIT Institute's Executive Director, Prof. Mike Gregory: "The establishment of the CRN as an independent network shows the power of the Cambridge-MIT Institute in bringing together academic pioneers with industrialists and policy makers, and the potential that this offers to keep industry in touch with the latest global developments."

BT's Chief Technology Officer, Matt Bross: "BT is proud to become a Founder Member in the Communications Research Network - an organisation that will foster innovation throughout the global communications industry. Our open innovation programme is about transforming the way we innovate new products and services. Its success depends on global innovation network partners, so our membership of the CRN will allow us to work with an unmatched set of top academics in communications in a way that complements our own internal research work, as well as our multi-billion pound investment in the 21st Century Network."

Chairman of Fujitsu Telecommunications, Simon Blagden MBE: "The Communications Research Network is an important and significant new organisation in our industry and Fujitsu is proud to be a Founder Member. At its heart will be world-leading innovation programmes and the ability for members and academics to share important and significant research data. This will be highly complementary to Fujitsu's world-wide research projects and will provide an important platform for promoting research excellence."


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