ANN: FREE ACCESS TO XTM ENGINE K42 FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS

["H. Holger Rath" <holger.rath@empolis.com>]

EMPOLIS GIVES RESEARCH PROJECTS FREE ACCESS TO ITS K42 
KNOWLEDGE SERVER TECHNOLOGY

empolis GmbH, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann MOHN Media 
Group, launched the empolis k42® Education Grant 
Program which gives non-profit research projects free 
access to all empolis k42® components - the cutting 
edge knowledge server, fully compliant with the XML 
Topic Map standard (XTM).

Knowledge management is viewed as one of the key issues 
that enterprises are confronted with maintain the 
competitive advantage on the market. Several knowledge 
technologies have already been developed or are 
undergoing research. Topic Maps are a fundamental 
technology for knowledge representation. In Spring 
2000, Topic Maps were published as an international ISO 
standard. empolis is one of the first Topic Map 
software vendors. empolis k42® is a knowledge server 
product with 100% conformity to the XML Topic Map 
standard.

Knowledge technologies still require further research 
through various scientific branches. In addition, a 
wide range of scientific branches could benefit from 
state-of-the-art knowledge technologies, such as Topic 
Maps, or could potentially contribute valuable input to 
the Topic Map community. The empolis k42® Education 
Grant Program was founded to unite different 
communities and to provide the scientific world with a 
stable, comprehensive knowledge server - k42 - to 
support research projects.

Any education or research institution around the globe 
with non-profit projects in the area of knowledge 
representation can apply for participation in the 
empolis k42® Education Grant Program. After approval 
for participation by empolis, the institution receives 
a complete k42 knowledge server package for project 
use. In return, empolis receives access to the programs 
or results developed with k42 for marketing purposes or 
as input for product improvements. 

"Many research teams will not have the resources to 
program or purchase Topic Map software necessary to run 
the projects efficiently," states Dr. H. Holger Rath, 
the empolis Director of Research & Development, member 
of the Topic Map ISO committee, and co-editor of the 
TMQL standard. "The empolis k42® Education Grant 
Program provides essential access to the newest 
technologies available. First applications indicate 
that enormous interest in our program exists."

k42 offers a complete enterprise infrastructure for 
creation, management, exploration, and query of 
knowledge structures utilizing the XML Topic Map 
standard. k42 consists of a scaleable and high 
performance knowledge server providing highly optimized 
knowledge storage, powerful Java-API, knowledge editing 
and navigation frameworks based on servlets, as well as 
support for TMQL (Topic Map Query Language) and rule-
based inferencing. Finally, k42 is 100% Java, providing 
cross platform support.

empolis has traditionally cooperated with local 
universities, ensuring that its products and services 
are continuously based on state-of -the-art 
technologies or paradigms. The Education Grant Program 
continues this tradition with a much broader scope.

"The empolis k42® Education Grant Program has the 
potential to form the platform for interdisciplinary 
research exchange using Topic Maps and is, therefore, a 
unique opportunity that empolis offers to the 
scientific world," added Graham Moore, empolis Vice 
President Research & Development - also member of the 
Topic Map ISO committee and co-editor of the XTM 
specification. "A perfect win-win situation for 
everyone."

Application forms of the empolis k42® Education Grant 
Program can be found online at http://k42.empolis.co.uk 
or can be requested by email from k42.egp@empolis.com.

ABOUT EMPOLIS:
empolis, a subsidiary enterprise of the Bertelsmann 
MOHN Media Group, offers professional knowledge and 
content management solutions. empolis' products support 
company-wide knowledge management at every stage of 
information flow. Tailored to the requirements of 
various industries, empolis delivers standardized 
technology which is always state-of-the-art. With the 
products and services provided by empolis, an 
organization's massive amounts of information are 
transformed into indispensable, intelligent capital.

With over 400 employees, empolis has many years of 
experience with substantial technologies such as XML 
and Java at it's disposal, not to mention the decisive 
role that this knowledge has played and will continue 
to play in the establishment of international 
standards.

Comparable to the multi-national empolis customer base, 
empolis is represented globally: empolis meanwhile has 
twelve locations in Germany and is internationally 
represented in Swindon (UK), Budapest (Hungary), Warsaw 
(Poland), Oslo (Norway) and Boston (USA).

CONTACT THE EMPOLIS K42® EGP TEAM:
Email: mailto:k42.egp@empolis.com
Web: http://k42.empolis.co.uk
Phone: +49-9365-8062-0

PRESS RELEASE: Gütersloh, August 20, 2001