Chairman of IIS Board elected a full member of Russian Engineering Academy

On 17 December 2004 Yuri Hohlov, Chairman of the Board, Institute of the Information Society, was elected a full member of the Russian Engineering Academy (section Information Systems, Computing and Electronic Technology, Communications and Telecommunications). Since 2000 Dr. Hohlov was a corresponding member of REA. This title is a worthy tribute to his long and fruitful service in the sphere of using information and communication technologies for development.

Dr. Hohlov graduated from Kazan University, Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, in 1976. He started his working career in Kazan University, Donetsk University, Mittag-Leffler Institute of the Swedish Academy of Sciences and Royal Institute of Technology, Steklov Mathematical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics of the RAS.

From 1982 to 1988 Dr. Hohlov directed a team of software system developers modeling processes of deposits exploitation in Western Siberia. In early 90-ies he was among founders of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), in 1993-95 an information system of RFBR was created under his supervision, this system is also used by the Russian Foundation for Humanities.

In 1994-95 Dr. Hohlov actively participated in development and realization of interdepartmental program "National Network of Computer Telecommunications for Science and Higher School" (Ministry of Science, Ministry of Education, Russian Academy of Sciences, and RFBR).

In 1996-97 under his supervision as Deputy Director the Russian State Library developed a program for implementing information technologies. This program was financed by the Commission of European Communities within the framework of the TACIS Program.

In 1999-2000 he was one of ideologists and developers of the Interdepartmental Digital Libraries Program for 10 Russian ministries and departments.

Since 1996 Dr. Hohlov has been actively involved in resolving the problems of the Information Society development. He was a member of Supervisory Board of the project "National Telecommunications Policy Debate in Russia" (1997) within the infoDev Program of the World Bank. Together with a number of leading specialists in the sphere of telecommunications, informatics, information policy, librarianship, high performance computing and education, Dr. Hohlov established Institute of the Information Society - the first Russian independent research and service organization professionally dealing with the Information Society issues. At present he is the Chairman of IIS Board (reelected for the third term in September 2004).

In 1999-2001 Dr. Hohlov chaired Section for Information Technology of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). He has been Member of International Jury of Global Bangemann Challenge (1999) and Stokholm Challenge Award (2000 until present), member of Advisory Board in the European project "DELOS Network of Excellence for Digital Libraries", presidium member in the Virtual University of Europe and Central Asia, Chairman of PRIOR Expert Council. Dr. Hohlov was Chairman of Expert Council of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of RF on regional competitions within the federal target program "eRussia (2002-2010)", and Deputy Chairman of Committee for the national competition "Russia's Best ICT Region" conducted by Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

Since September 2000 Dr. Hohlov is actively participating in implementing the Russia Development Gateway Project as technology advisor.

He also participated in drafting the concept of Strategy of the Information Society Development in Russia (1999-2000).

From April 1998 to December 2001 Dr. Hohlov acted as Chairman of High Level Expert Group on Information, Informatization, Telecommunications and TV, Moscow City Duma (Council). Since April 2002 to the present time he chairs Expert Council on the Information Society Development of the Moscow City Duma.

Concept of Moscow's Transition to the Information Society was developed in 2000-2001 at the initiative and with participation of Dr. Hohlov (adopted by Moscow Mayor in July 2001). On request of the Moscow City Duma and Moscow Government at the initiative and with active participation of Dr. Hohlov Institute of the Information Society together with the above public expert council developed draft law N52 On Information Resources and Informatization of Moscow, adopted by the Moscow City Duma on 24 October 2001.

In 2000 on request of Department of Economic Policy and Development of Moscow and the Moscow Committee on Science and Technologies (MCST) Dr. Hohlov supervised development of methodological basis for integrating Moscow information systems. In 2001 on request of MCST he supervised development of recommendations for legal regulation of activity of the Moscow e-Market system "Mostorgi" concerning governmental procurement of goods and services. In 2001-2002 on request of Department of Economic Policy and Development of Moscow and Department of Science and Industrial Policy of Moscow Dr. Hohlov supervised development of the city target program for Moscow's Transition to the Information Society" (e-Moscow). At present he acts as First Deputy General Architect of the program.

On behalf of the Partnership we congratulate Dr. Hohlov with the title of academician of the Russian Engineering Academy and wish him new reaches of success.