Introduction Summary

Information access technology has emerged as one of the most innovative technology areas, impacting a wide range of industries, business models and even transforming social patterns. Information access is also a highly prioritized research area in the European and international research programs. Google, Yahoo and Microsoft (GYM) have proven both the strategic and short term business value of search based systems in a consumer setting. FAST has emerged as the recognized leading provider of search based systems. This includes both embedding of search as an IT infrastructure component and search as a mission critical part of new services. Furthermore, search technology represents a disruptive threat to the database vendors such as Oracle and IBM that add search capabilities with an incremental approach.

Dramatic changes in technology, business models and services are foreseen in information access. It is our belief that Norway has a unique opportunity to build a strong science and business platform to play a key role in the future of the information age. Integrating academic and corporate efforts with international centres of excellence will be of key importance in this effort.

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