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Oxford University is creating the world's first truly multidisciplinary Internet Institute based in a major university. The Oxford Internet Institute (OII), with initial funding of £15 million, will carry out research and make policy recommendations about the effects on society of the Internet with the goal of putting Oxford, the UK and Europe at the centre of debates about how the Internet could and should develop.

The Oxford Internet Institute has been made possible by a major donation from The Shirley Foundation of £10 million (partly to the University, of which the Institute will be a department within the Social Sciences Division, and partly to Balliol College, where it will be located) together with public funding totalling £5 million from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), which is supported by the Department for Education and Employment.

The creation of the OII has been warmly welcomed by the Secretary of State for Education, David Blunkett, the European Commissioner for the Information Society, Erkki Liikanen, and the Cabinet Office e-envoy, Andrew Pinder, as well as by Derek Wyatt MP, an early proponent of the concept. "I congratulate Oxford University on establishing this innovative Institute," says David Blunkett. "The effects of the Internet are pervasive - through business, education and leisure. Britain needs a centre for top-class research on the difficult issues the Internet poses in cryptography, intellectual property rights, security and so on. In bringing together research across the country, I hope the Institute will become a world leader."

The Vice-Chancellor, Colin Lucas, comments; "This is an area with huge commercial interests and there is a need for a voice that is independent, underpinned by first class research and recognised world-wide for its integrity. Oxford is well placed to provide this and the generous funding from The Shirley Foundation and the further support from HEFCE are an ideal beginning. Moreover, the enthusiasm for this project is so great that the planning, the fundraising and finding of a building have all been completed in a matter of months."

Andrew Graham, Master-Elect of Balliol, who has been heading the group working on this initiative adds: "You can already shop, bank, vote, debate, argue, consult a doctor and get your degree over the Net - and do so all around the globe. However, there is also an enormous amount of rubbish out there and some material that is harmful. To understand what is happening and to formulate helpful policies you need people such as political scientists, lawyers, medics, economists and computing scientists working together. Building on the substantial strengths already in Oxford, this is what the OII will do. It is a great opportunity for the University and for Balliol."

Dame Stephanie Shirley, founder of The Shirley Foundation, says: "For some time now I have been very interested in the social, ethical and other issues raised by the Internet. These are global concerns and I am delighted that my funding has provided the Oxford Internet Institute with the firm foundation required to attract public, and in due course further private, financial backing. I am confident that the Institute will enable Britain to play a leading and authoritative role in this important area."

The Institute will attract the best people in the world both through permanent appointments and by offering senior visiting appointments (filled after open competition) for research staff seconded to Oxford. It will also act as a focus in Oxford for doctoral students and postdoctoral staff working in this area. "The attraction of this project", explains HEFCE's Chief Executive, Sir Brian Fender, "is the opportunity it presents for a world-leading collaboration which can foster a genuine UK Internet academic community, equipped to anticipate and facilitate rapid response to topical issues of public concern."

The Oxford Internet Institute will raise further funds to support plans for expansion of its activities.

For more information see
Oxford Internet Institute 

Other useful links
Oxford Intellectual Property Research Centre
Comparative Media Law and Policy
Oxford-Intel Initiative
Institute of Health Sciences
Technology Assisted Lifelong Learning Programme
Distributed Screen Saver Project (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford)
Ruskin School

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