The Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) promotes research of importanceto the evolution of the Internet protocols, applications, architectureand technology.

Overview

TheInternet Research Task Force(IRTF) focuses on longer term research issues related to the Internetwhile the parallel organization, theInternet Engineering Task Force(IETF), focuses on the shorter term issues of engineering andstandards making.

The IRTF is comprised of a number of focused and long-termResearch Groups.These groups work on topics related to Internet protocols,applications, architecture and technology. Research Groups have thestable long-term membership needed to promote the development ofresearch collaboration and teamwork in exploring research issues.Participation is by individual contributors, rather than byrepresentatives of organizations.

The IRTF also organises theACM/IRTF Applied Networking Research Workshopand theApplied Networking Research Prizeto encourage collaboration between the academic research world andthe Internet standards community.

The IRTF also makes available a number oftravel grantsandfee waiversto support PhD students, early career researchers, andunder-represented groups to attend research group meeting,workshops, and other IRTF-related events.

Research Groups

These 16 Research Groups are currently chartered or proposed for chartering:

More Information

The IRTF believes that research is most effective when done in anopen and inclusive forum that encourages diversity of ideas anddiversity of participation. We strive to create and maintain anenvironment that encourages broad participation, and one in whichpeople are treated with dignity, decency, and respect. Policies thatrelate toconduct, diversity, and inclusionincluding ananti-harassment policyare in place to protect participants. Any concerns may be raisedwith theIRTF Chairorthe Ombudsteam.

RFC 7418 gives an IRTF Primer forIETF Participants. It provides ahigh-level description of issues forIETF participants to considerwhen bringing proposals for new research groups into the IRTF, andemphasizes differences in expectations between the two organizations.

The IRTF is managed by theIRTF Chairin consultation with theInternet Research Steering Group(IRSG). The IRSG membership includes the IRTF Chair, the chairs ofthe various Research Groups, and other individuals (“members atlarge”) from the research community selected by the IRTF Chair.

The governance and operation of the IRTF is described by variousRFCs and other policy documentsincludingIntellectual Property Rights disclosure rulesand theIETF/IRTF/IAB Privacy Statement.

Theirtf-announce@irtf.orgmailing list is a low-volume public announcement mailing list for researchgroup creation and conclusion, IRTF RFC publication, IRTF workshop callsfor papers, etc. Theirtf-discuss@irtf.orgmailing list is a general discussion list for IRTF-related topics.Both lists are public and anyone may subscribe.Each IRTF research group also maintains its a mailing list for discussionand announcements relating to that group; unless otherwise specified theselists are also public.

A wiki with more information about the IRTF ishere.