Changes at CAN

In this article we give an overview of the changes that are due at CAN in the end of this year and the beginning of 1996. Since the establishment of RIACA, several developments took place that are of prime importance for CAN. Changes are necessary to accommodate the situation of 1995 and the years to come. We list these developments:

• The connections with our host organisation, CWI, have become less. Currently there is only one project, the Dynamical Systems Lab, where both CWI and CAN are cooperating;

• There is a steady growth in the commercial activities of the Expertise Centre of around 15% a year, which is promising, but not rocketing as in the first years with a level of 50%. During the last years, the Expertise Centre is for about 50% self supporting;

• The Expertise Centres that are recognised by NWO have been subject of a study for evaluating the current situation and the science policy. Among the outcomes was that the centres have been successful in making information technology easily accessible, but not in becoming financially self supporting. CAN ranks among the highest with the 50% coverage. An important conclusion from the report is that an embedding in a large institution may be a solution for an Expertise Centre to ensure closest connections with science and to reduce the costs to a marginal level;

• A similar reasoning holds for RIACA. To function in the best way, it needs an embedding in a scientific setting.

So this year was a year of thinking and brainstorming at CAN, talking to policy makers and to directors of institutions to find a new place for the Expertise Centre and for RIACA. Finally we are now in a stage of implementing a new structure that reinforces CAN and that is simpler from an organisational point of view. Start will be the 1 of January 1996.

• New Structure
  • RIACA
  • CAN Expertise Centre
  • CAN Diensten
• Personnel
• What will change for you?