2017.07.04
Professor/Dean Jun Murai of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies has received the 2017 ICT Award, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award, from The Telecommunication Technology Committee.
The Telecommunication Technology Committee was established with the aim of striving for standardization in the information and communications technology field by creating standards for information and communication networks, as well as promoting their dissemination. Since 2004, it has been presenting awards to recognize significant contributions toward this objective.
Professor Murai was recognized with this award for his significant contributions to the promotion and dissemination of international standardization for the internet in Japan and around the world. Since the dawn of the internet in the 1980s, he has been instrumental in building the internet's technological foundation. This includes his activities in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which promotes the international standardization of internet technologies; the founding of its parent organization, the Internet Society (ISOC); and the standardization of the web environment by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). He has also made substantial contributions to the establishment of internet governance and has continued to foster talent in the field of standardization to this day.
Comment from Professor/Dean Jun Murai
Activities for the international standardization of technology typically involve not only the design and implementation of the technology itself but also participation in frequent meetings held around the world, coordination through discussions, persuasion, and negotiations, remote meetings held at unusual hours during the preparatory stages, constant email correspondence, and the drafting of numerous documents. Given these circumstances, it is common for engineers from large corporations, mandated by their country or company, to be involved in de jure international standards such as those from the ISO and ITU. In addition to the individual's skills and passion, support from the country and company becomes crucial.
On the other hand, the standardization of the internet and digital technologies is, so to speak, de facto standardization. Many standards are established by individuals or within specific technology industries, and a support system for participating in standardization activities had not been established.
Well-known industry standard activities like those of the IEEE and MPEG, and internet standards from the IETF and W3C, are increasingly important global standard technologies. A national system for information and communications technology has now been launched to support these activities.
As an expression of this new system, the scope of The Telecommunication Technology Committee's Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award, which was traditionally given to contributors to de jure standards, has been expanded. I believe that receiving this award for my contributions to the standardization activities of the IETF and W3C is an honor that recognizes me as a front-runner, encouraging the next generation to tackle these challenges with courage and confidence.
I would like to once again express my gratitude to my colleagues who have been involved in the research and development of IETF standards, to everyone involved in this award, and to Keio University for its support of internet development, including hosting the W3C. I promise to pass this legacy on to the future.
Source: General Affairs (Public Relations), Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Office