The Dutch parallel reduction machine project

In November 1984 three research groups at the universities of Amsterdam, Nijmegen and Utrecht started a cooperative project sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Science and Education (Science Council). The first phase lasting until the end of 1987 is a pilot study and has as aim to answer the following question. Is it possible and realistic to construct an efficient parallel reduction machine? The present paper gives an outline of the problems concerning parallel reduction machines and of our research towards their solutions.