Idea - standard - product!

Different aspects of the relationship between fundamental research and standardization in the area of information technologies are considered. Emphasis is placed on studies on the technology of open systems begun under the direction of Academician Yu. V. Gulyaev in 1993. Recent advances in this area are described, among which may be cited the incorporation of the open-systems technology into the foundations of government policy in the dissemination of information technology; the approval by State Standard of Russia of a State Profile of Open Systems Relationships; and the creation by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education of Russia of a Unified Center of Open Systems. The center is concerned with the development of literature in the area of scientific methods and educational methodology relating to the topic of open systems. The development of a Technique for Portability Testing of Applications and the creation of a specialization in open systems and the initiation of training of specialists are of special importance. The outlook and features of the application of the open systems technology in the supercomputer environment are considered. Questions having to do with the application of the open systems technology in such areas as microelectronics and telemedicine are briefly reviewed. Performance standards that define the efficiency gained from the introduction of the results of basic research are also noted.