DE: Launch of the Open Source Integration Initiative

DE: Launch of the Open Source…

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Published on: 16/05/2011 News Archived

Several Open Source German companies cooperate in the newly launched Open Source Integration Initiative (OSII) in order to develop a modular ‘stack’ solution for open source business solutions. The Initiative is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and backed by Lisog, the largest open source network in the German-speaking world.

The participating companies share the same vision of the development of a software package for business applications on an open source basis. Companies and experts from all parts of Germany met for the first time at the CeBIT event in Hannover; this marked the kick-off meeting of the new Open Source Integration Initiative (OSII), which is now officially launched.

The OSII participating companies are willing to bring together their different services in a ‘stack’ in such a way that all modules will be fully compatible with each other and the configured components of the business applications will be integrated and combined as needed. The initiative is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology as part of the Central Innovation Programme for small and medium sized enterprises (Zentralen Innovationsprogramms Mittelstand - ZIM). The Public Innovation Agency for IT and Media of Baden-Württemberg (MFG Baden-Württemberg) will be responsible for managing the network. This implies the strategic development of the network, the analysis of technical capabilities and of market opportunities as well as all public relations and marketing activities.

Many companies so far shy away from building their company IT on open source solutions. The main reason for this is that the open source market is severely fragmented. Although there are many highly efficient single solutions, they often have to be customised individually. This customising effort and the absence of a superior contact point deter small and medium enterprises. The interest in open source is high and keeps growing during the economic crisis as well. Indeed, through the use of open solutions, companies can save on costs and become independent from software vendors.

“Users seek One-Stop-Shops for their IT. So far, there is no such thing in the open source field. We want this to change” said Thomas Uhl, managing director of a software company which is one of the driving forces of the project. Dr. Jürgen Jähnert, from the Public Innovation Agency for IT and Media of Baden-Württemberg, added: "Especially for the medium-sized companies, we want to make the decision for open source easier, by ensuring compatibility of the various business components, all from a single source”.

The project is also pursuing a close partnership with the largest open source association in the German-speaking world - Lisog. The Chairman of Lisog, Dr Karl-Heinz Strassemeyer, stated: "Lisog is an important interface between providers and users in the open source arena." Ideally, cooperation of the project partners with the association could "give the project impetus and attention," Dr Strassemeyer added.

A total of 20 software companies and a research institute cooperate in the OSII. Specifically, the initiators have gained members, which together cover the entire spectrum of potential IT solutions - from databases and archive solutions for middleware right through to software applications such as groupware or enterprise resource planning (ERP).

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