May 10, 2007

 

Global RFID alliance formed

 

 

The RFID (radio-frequency identification) Research Centre in the University of Arkansas has ventured with research centres in Germany and Italy to form a worldwide association of radio frequency-focused laboratories called the Global RFID Lab Alliance.

 

The alliance's aim is to provide a mechanism for communication and research collaboration among the radio-frequency labs globally. Eight academic radio-frequency research centres worldwide are charter members.

 

The formation is significant to the growing pervasiveness of RFID and its growing importance in research at individual laboratories, said Bill Hardgrave, Director of the University's RFID Research Centre and Executive Director of the Information Technology Research Institute.

 

The centre is housed in the university's research institute, which is part of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

 

Hardgrave said the alliance is needed to promote collaboration among laboratories, which is currently lacking and often results in duplicate research as well as less than efficient funding.

 

Antonio Rizzi, Director of the RFID Lab at the University of Parma, Italy, said RF technologies are becoming global issues and numerous research around the world will appreciate the possibility to have other laboratories globally to refer to their worldwide RF deployments.

 

The third originator of the alliance is the LogDynamics Lab at the University of Bremen, Germany.

 

Charter members also include the Centre for Food Distribution and Retailing at the University of Florida; Georgia Tech Research Institute at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; LIT Korea - Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea.

 

The Global RFID Lab Alliance will focus on the retail and fast-moving consumer goods; automotive; aviation; logistics and courier express and parcel; cold chain; and pharmaceutical industries, among others.

 

Researches will include RFID, RTLS (real-time locating system), middleware and advanced data processing. Research topics can be cross-functional either in terms of industry or in terms of processes such as supply chain automation, product life cycle, cold chain, food quality and pharmaceutical applications.

 

For a full capture of its research, the Global RF Lab Alliance will issue the International Journal of RF Technologies: Research and Applications which will be published by Taylor & Frances, one of the world's leading publishers of academic journals. The first issue is expected to be published in 2008.

 

Hardgrave added the Global laboratory will "provide wonderful opportunities for the exchange of professors and lecturers as well as educational opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. Students and faculty can participate in research carried out by other alliance members."