Mission

The mission of SICS is to contribute to the competitive strength of industry by conducting advanced research in strategic areas of computer science, and to actively promote the use of new research ideas and results in industry and in society at large.

The primary ways in which SICS fulfills its mission are breifly desribed below.

People

SICS provides an opportunity for researchers to combine an academic career with exposure to industry challenges. Over the last 20 years, more than 40 researchers have recieved their Ph.D. degree based on project work carried out at SICS and approx. 20 Master's students carry out their thesis work at SICS every year. Many SICS reseachers move on to either academia or industry, taking a unique and valuable combination of skills and experience with them. Over the years, 18 professors have been recruited from SICS, and hundreds of researchers have moved on to pursue careers in industry.

Research projects

Virtually all research carried out at SICS consists of project work in cooperation with industry. Projects vary in size, but all of them typically try to solve some industry related problem or explore a new area with industrial relevance. Most of the time, the actual research is carried out in direct collaboration with people from the participating companies or organizations. Consequently, probability is high that any new insights and results are actually exploited by the participating organizations.

Scientific publications and other scientific dissemination

Every year, SICS researchers publish approx. 100 scientific publications, including reviewed articles in international scientific journals, conference and workshop proceedings, book chapters, and technical reports. See further [link to list of SICS publications]. In addition to publications, SICS researchers disseminate their results to fellow academic researchers by organizing and participating at academic conferences and workshops.

Popular press and public events

SICS research is often featured in popular and trade press and other media [link to 'in the media']. Every year, SICS organizes an Open House day, where current research prototypes are exhibited and many seminars are given. This day alone typically attracts 500 attendees. SICS also organizes more targeted public seminars on current topics, primarily targeted to industry. Finally, SICS researchers participate at various trade exhibitions and other public events, e.g. culture and science exhibitions.

Spin-off companies

Occasionally, new companies are started based on ideas developed in SICS research projects. It also happens that SICS researchers start consulting companies, effectively spreading competence that has been developed in a research setting to a wider audience than is possible through a research organization. See further this complete list of SICS spin-offs.

Publicly available software

Most software development in SICS research projects stops at the research prototype or proof-of-concept stage. Typically, further development to reach a stable product is done by one or several industry partners. However, on occasion SICS does develop and make available software directly to interested parties. In this case, it is most often done by releasing the software as open source but SICS also has the option to provide software on a commercial basis, as is the case with its celebrated SICStus Prolog [link to]. See further [complete list of publicly available SICS software].

Standardization work

Participation in standardization work is maybe one of the most efficient ways to promote and disseminate advances in knowledge. In addition, good standards drive innovation and competition - especially in technology markets. SICS regularly partcipates in standardization work - often within the scope of a large research project, but also on a more continuous basis outside the scope of specific projects. Previously, SICS has, for example, contributed to standards for Prolog and IPv6.