The University of Southampton and the University of Oxford have agreed to partner in the establishment of a joint Institute for Web Science.
The Institute鈥� which was announced by the Prime Minister yesterday (22 March)鈥� will ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of developments in the World Wide Web鈥� and understands鈥� anticipates and fully exploits the economic potential that emerges from the evolution of the Web.
Co鈥揾osted by the Universities of Southampton and Oxford鈥� and created through a 拢30 million grant provided through the Department of Business鈥� Innovation and Skills鈥� the Institute will build on the foundations of existing鈥� complementary strengths at the two universities鈥� and the significant investment made by both universities in Web Science and its societal and governmental implications. It will exploit the track record of both host institutions of engaging with business to commercialise research, and of generating and nurturing “spin out” start-up companies.
Professor Nigel Shadbolt who will lead the Institute with Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, commented: 鈥淭he Web is one of the most disruptive and transformative innovations we have ever witnessed. We must understand the forces that have shaped it, anticipate its evolution and determine its future social and economic impact. But we must also research a next generation of the Web. The announcement today will allow us to do this in the UK and to ensure that we remain pioneers and world class in this critical area.鈥�
He went on to say: 鈥淭he Institute for Web Science will also act as a bridge between research and business, helping commercialise these new technologies. It will also help Government stimulate demand through procurement.鈥�
The Institute for Web Science will act as a hub for collaboration between the hosting institutions and other universities in the UK and the related business communities. It will have a critical mass sufficient to form a world-leading capability in the next generation Web.
The Institute will build on the existing reputation of the two universities and their links to centres overseas to attract funding and talent from around the world.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam commented: 鈥淚 am delighted that Southampton will play such a fundamental role in shaping the next-generation technologies and capabilities of the World Wide Web. I congratulate Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Professor Nigel Shadbolt for their recent work which has demonstrated the transformational power of the Web in delivering data and information which is of real value.
“This new role will build on Southampton’s established world-class research and expertise in Web Science. We now look forward to working with universities and business around the world as we take this research initiative forward.鈥�