The International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (Icfoss) is being revamped with an amended vision document and functionalities.
The decision was taken at the fourth meeting of the Icfoss governing body held here chaired by Mr P. K. Kunhalikkutty, Minister for Industries, IT and Urban Affairs.
EXPERT COMMITTEE
The new vision and mission were evolved based on the recommendations of an expert committee under the Hewlett-Packard Chair in Quantitative Methods and Information Systems Area, IIM-Bangalore, Prof Rahul De.
The other members of the committee included Prof Sebastian Morris (IIM-Ahmedabad), and Prof Sunil Mani (Planning Commission Chair) and Mr Soman Nair (Registrar, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram).
The committee highlighted the role of Icfoss in the emerging times as an international autonomous institution and needs to be endowed with ‘significant functional autonomy and operational agility.'
GLOBA REPUTE
The centre held considerable promise to evolve into a world-class organisation of international stature and repute, dealing with programmes such as academics, research and development, training, certification, outreach, and supporting free and open source software (Foss)-based entrepreneurship and industry.
The meeting also examined the context of Foss in the country and around the world. It was pointed out that several State Governments and Governments of different countries around the world had adopted pro-FOSS IT policies in the last few years. Kerala was the first State to adopt Foss as a part of its IT policy in 2001. This forward-looking strategy was now being acknowledged around the world.
RIGHT CREDENTIALS
“Icfoss was established on the premise that Kerala had the right credentials as well a responsibility to lead the rest of the country as well as the world in the domain of FOSS,” said Mr Satish Babu, Director, Icfoss.
This has been proved by not only the successful Foss-based projects that have come up in the State in the last 10 years but also by the acceptability Foss has gained.
The committee appreciated this, and suggested a set of measures that will help Icfoss achieve stature of global pre-eminence.
TENTH ANNIVERSARY
The meeting also decided to conclude the 10th anniversary celebrations of Foss in India with an international conference scheduled during December 27 to 29 in Thiruvananthapuram.
This is the third in the ‘Free Software, Free Society' series (previously also held in 2005 and 2008) and will have the theme, ‘A decade of Foss: Looking back, Looking forward'.
An estimated 200 delegates from around the world are expected to attend, including Foss developers, academicians, practitioners, policymakers, free culture advocates, filmmakers, litterateurs, artistes and musicians.