Introduction

The past year has seen NMRC recognised as one of the premier Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) research centres in the world, strategically positioned for the new millennium. NMRC researchers are playing an important role in both European and International ICT collaborative research programmes. In Ireland, an acknowledgement of the pole position of the NMRC in the national research infrastructure and its strength in basic long-term research was the decision by the Irish Government ' s Higher Education Authority Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions 1999-2001 to establish a National Nanofabrication Facility (NNF) at NMRC. This complements the existing microfabrication facilities within the Centre and positions NMRC to carry out the advanced research that will drive future ICT technology development.

This scientific report documents the results of our applied and basic ICT research during 1999. Reflecting NMRC's role as the hub of Ireland's ICT infrastructure, the research performed in collaboration with Irish universities is also detailed. This scientific report together with the Centre's Annual Report for 1999, serve as a record of the increased level of scientific and technological research at the NMRC during 1999. Both reports are available on our website.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the staff and students in the Centre who are continually building this ICT knowledge base and make NMRC such a stimulating and productive environment. Our vision is to play a key role in the development of a knowledge-based Irish economy in the 21st Century based on creativity and innovation.

Prof. G.M.Crean
Director