Joint Initiative by IIT-B, CDAC and IBM

Background and Motivation
===========================
Open source software is growing dramatically around the globe. The
momentum is significant.  The acceptance of Open source software
presents an ideal opportunity for countries to develop a new software
industry, with minimal investments. There is an enormous potential for
in-country skills development; to cultivate software entrepreneurs;
and the ensuing in-country industry, to write applications that run on
open standards.

The easy coexistence of open source software and commercial software
facilitates new entrants to the IT industry, and opens larger market
opportunities through the adoption of open standards. These
characteristics provide a platform upon which governments and their
citizens can build IT strategies and economic development programs.

Today, developing nations such as India are making serious initiatives
to exploit an OSS solution to address issues of the digital divide,
localization requirements, national security, development of local IT
industry etc. The President of India himself is an Open Source
software evangelist. While cost is a key factor, it is the
"freedom of choice" from a closed/proprietary solution that
is fast driving the adoption of OSS.

C-DAC, the premier R & D institution involved in the design,
development and deployment of advanced Information Technology (IT)
based solutions, IIT one of the centers of academic excellence in the
country and IBM, the world's largest information technology and
business solutions company have come together to help the nation
derive the true value of Open Source solutions. CDAC, IITM & IBM
partner to set up an Open Source Software Resource Center (OSSRC) for
OSS at C-DAC, Navi Mumbai.

Once the present framework with CDAC and IIT Mumbai gets established,
IIT Chennai, Anna University -Chennai, Indian Institute of Mathematics
and Indian Institute of Science, among other key institutes, will
partake in this endeavour.This partnership marks the beginning of a
series of initiatives that is expected to eventually develop the right
ecosystem that will facilitate widespread OSS development and adoption
in the country.

Vision
=======================
    To build OSSRC into the "nerve center" of OSS development in the country, 
in partnership with CDAC & IIT and other key institutes in the country.

Objectives
==========================
*  To establish this center as an eco-system for large scale OSS development
*  Foster significant OSS development in the country, with particular focus on domestic needs.
*  Undertake activities to increase understanding of OSS model, and enhance its exploitation.
*  Foster development of good quality public domain content/courseware 
   in various areas of education in order to develop:
       - Workforce of relevance in the national context with OSS skills
       - Students employable in industry, user agencies with OSS skills
       - Faculty with capacity to impart OSS skills in students

Benefits to the country:

* This is a seeding opportunity to develop an economically viable trend and industry
* The acceptance of the Open Source standards  provides  an ideal  opportunity for 
   countries to develop a new software industry, with minimal investments
* There is an enormous potential for in-country skills development; 
   to cultivate software entrepreneurs and the ensuing in-country industry, 
   to write applications that run on the Open Source Platforms.
* The potential cascading effect of a new strong software industry in a country 
  can have profound impact on their economy and other commercial investments in the country