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THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
IN NORTHERN IRELAND


“The biggest disruptor the software industry has ever seen” - Gartner 2007


Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) provides certain freedoms above and beyond those normally expected. In particular, normally the freedom to run the software for any purpose, and critically to modify it, and distribute the modified code. The terms Free Software and Open Source Software are often used synonymously.

FOSS methodologies confer many competitive advantages to business. These advantages have driven widespread adoption. According to Gartner, FOSS represented 13% of the global software market in 2006, and is set to grow to 27% of the market by 2011.

Key benefits to business include:

 


When we consider public bodies, who are responsible to the taxpayer for obtaining value-for-money and who often deal with public information, these issues are increasingly important. Significant cost savings can be made by opting for FOSS products that are as capable as their proprietary counterparts that are free-of-charge, and use open, interoperable document formats that ensure freedom from vendor lock-in.

Increasingly Universities and other bodies are seeing FOSS as a low risk method for exploiting their existing work, sharing good practice and improving their national and international reputation without the need for a large marketing and distribution infrastructure. Indeed, software already made FOSS by the University of Ulster has received national endorsement and international interest.

Software companies, both large and small, are increasingly turning to some aspect of FOSS in their activities. Some, such as HP, Sun, Intel and Oracle, provide some of their software under the FOSS model, thereby gaining expertise and assistance from the wider community in developing their projects. Others, particularly smaller companies, generate FOSS, and exploit this model as a low-cost, low-risk option: there are virtually no distribution costs, it is easier to employ staff as demand grows, and there is less need for large early investment in marketing activities. Still other companies – for example many small internet businesses - consume FOSS as some part of their activities, and build services or other products upon it.

It has been pointed out that, in a competitive global market, “the open source model can provide start-ups with a simple, fast and efficient way to build a client base and thus gain market share” and that “Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) cannot afford to ignore the increased importance of FOSS” (Forfás, 2006)

Even those companies who have no involvement with any FOSS (and that is now rare), urgently need to understand the relevant technologies and business models. Indeed, one of the largest inhibiting factors to the greater development of this software is a lack of understanding of the issues, especially associated with licensing, that goes with such software.



OPEN-NI aims to support the public and private sector organisations that acquire, use, build on, or develop FOSS. This is to be done by creating a network that will help disseminate expertise and knowledge, helping the community better understand FOSS,


There are already many within Northern Ireland who use or develop FOSS. The aim of OPEN-NI is to maximise the potential of this knowledge base within Northern Ireland, to ensure that relevant sectors here are not left behind as global activity in this area increases.

With initial support being provided by the HE/ FE Connected Programme the aim is for OPEN-NI to be self-sustaining through membership fees as well as revenue from attendance at regular organised workshops and events.

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