BT Research

BT Research is part of the BT Innovate division of BT Group, a provider of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. BT has an 'open innovation' approach to research, drawing on external resources such as partnerships with universities, suppliers, partners, customers and start-ups to complement the value of BT's own internal innovation assets.

BT Group has long been active in collaborative research activities such as the EU Seventh Framework Programme

Standort

BT has a global research presence. In the UK, research is located at Adastral Park, near Ipswich in the county of Suffolk. The site was first opened in 1975 and has grown since then to a facility today which has around 4,000 Research and Development people from both BT and some of its partner companies.

Globally, BT has research labs in China, Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. BT has a strong partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the 'BT Disruptive lab' is based on the MIT campus in Massachusetts, USA. BT also leads the India-UK Advanced Technology Centre, a consortium of 22 Indian and UK industry and academic partners conducting breakthrough research into current and next generation fixed and wireless communications.

History

Research was first established in 1921 at the Post Office Research Station at Dollis Hill, London. One of the key developments which took place at the site was the development during World War II of the Colossus computer computer used for cryptoanalysis at Bletchley Park .

In 1968, it was announced that the research station in London would be relocated to a new centre to be built at Martlesham Heath in Suffolk. This new centre was formally opened on 21 November 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and is today known as Adastral Park.

The Royal Air Force were the original residents of the site in Suffolk. Experimental aircraft test flights flew from the airfield and the name (Adastral Park) is intended to reflect the history of experimentation and innovation, which is the continuing focus for the Park.

Current Research Themes

The focus of research at BT is Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Major Theme areas are;

Future of the Internet & Network Transformation
Mobility and Convergence
Future of the Web and Semantic Intelligence
Information and Security Systems
Customer Service & Systems
The Digital Home & Sociable Communications

Working with the global academic community

BT works closely with both academics and students globally and currently has research relationships with 36 Universities, including

A number of universities currently have research staff based in the 'university building' on the Adastral Park campus. BT also works with a number of universities to deliver academic development to its people including the 'Martlesham MSc'.

References

External Links