IBM leads international research effort

IBM Corp. is leading a consortium to carry out research on wireless and sensor technologies for the Army Research Laboratory and the United Kingdom Defense Ministry.

The consortium, called the International Technology Alliance, includes Boeing Co., Honeywell International Inc., Roke Manor Research and academic and government organizations. The group won a 10-year, $135.8 million contract.

The research will focus on advanced technologies for secure wireless and sensor networks for coalition operations.

IBM is touting the consortium as a new way of conducting research because it builds partnerships among government, academic, and industry researchers in both countries.

Research will be conducted in four areas:

• Network theory
  
• Security
  
• Sensor information processing and delivery
  
• Distributed planning and decision-making.