Presentation at the 13th International Free Software Forum, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Abstract: In Latin America, it’s well-understood that Brazil was pioneering in considering FOSS to be both a strategy and a tool for regional economic development. But what about the rest of the world? As FOSS/OSS enters the mainstream of industry, how are countries in Europe and Asia looking at this disruptive force in software development? And what is happening in the United States where one could argue a very strong proprietary software industry is reinventing itself, with the U.S. government both following and leading the open development model? This talk discusses FOSS from the perspective of open information technology ecosystems and government’s role in them, providing a picture of the changing landscape of software industries and the potential for localized economic benefit to those participating. It includes a perspective of how governments are experimenting with becoming more directly involved with the open source community, and to learn from them. Stories and examples are drawn for the speakers experience, research and direct involvement with government, academic and industry bodies creating exemplary projects and reference models for others to consider.

1. Open Source Software
and Economic Development
(A Brief) World Tour of
Government-Centric Ecosystems
Presented presented to the
13th International Free Software Forum
July 26, 2012
by Deborah Bryant
FISL 13

2. About the Speaker
Civic & Non-profit Advisor BryantGroup
Homeland Open Security
Technology Program
2

3. A matter of words.
Open Source Software/OSS
Free Software/FOSS
Free/Libre Software/FLOSS

4. One Goal. Ten Strategies.
• Countries around the world are utilizing open
source to improve their countries economic
condition as part of their Information
CommunicationsTechnology (ICT) strategy.
• All strategy starts with existing resources.
• What can we learn from some current examples?
4 4

5. Open Ecosystem
Government Community
Industry
Education
Private Capitol

6. Brazil Recognized as visionary
Brasil
Brasil and pioneering
government leadership
in using FOSS for
- economic
development
- bridge the digital
divide

7. Spain • National Foundation
España
Espanha • Ambitious public
administration
projects
• Strong communities

8. France • High profile federal
Francia adoption
França • City of Paris:
Software Industry
Cluster Theory in
practice
• Funded 30 projects
to date

9. French FLOSS Global 2011
Revenue
25
2.5 Billion
30 Euros
source:

10. French FLOSS Companies
about 25
300
30
source:

11. Malaysia • Government
Malasia
Malásia Competency Center
• Aggressive public
sector development
• Investment in work
force development
(training)

12. Maylasia OSS Master Plan Implementation Roadmap

13. Malaysian Government Creates the Marketplace
Text

14. Malaysian Education and Work Force Training

15. Community

16. South Korea •
Corea del Sur Government
Coréia do Sul Investment in start-
ups and education
• Annual OSS Day and
cash awards
• Investment in work
force development
(training)

17. Korea’s National Initiative
Power Shift acceleration in the world IT market [HW to SW]
Maintain
Domestic OSS introduction has continuously expanded with a steady
Continuous growth(Annual average growth of 8.2%)
growth

18. Community Support & Encouragement
Supporting Undertake international contribution through the activation of
OSS OSS
Communities -22 subjects in 2011, Development driving registered in the sourceforge
-Developer training driving through 5th open SW developer contest

19. United States • Software industry is
Estados Unidos reinventing itself
Estados Unidos • Government is
investing in the
development model
• Economic and
political changes
have changed the
landscape for OSS

20. OSS 3-D Visualization
worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/
World Wind
Ecosystem
20
worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/

21. Public Private Models
Electronic Health Records
VistA
21

22. Public Private Models
Secure Health Information
Exchange
CONNECT
connectopensource.org
22

23. Public Private Models
Cancer Research Tools
23

24. US Federal IT Budget
• What no one is talking about.
24
24

25. Improving on Government’s
ability to collaborate
25
25

26. Investing in an Open Source Community
26
26

27. United Kingdom
Reino Unido
Reino Unido • UK has a long policy
courtship with open
source
• New procurement
strategy includes small
and medium businesses
(SME)
• Open Data program
increases interest in
FOSS

28. Portland • Small City Initiative
Oregon • Gov outreach to FOSS
USA community in all
technology initiatives
• Open Source mecca
for North America
• Contributors and
entrepreneurs live
and work here.

29. Emerging Trends

30. Increasing Historical
Information (Data)
Analytics

31. Traditional Investment
Risk Considerations
Technology Management
Time to Market

32. New Investment Consideration
(brings value and risk)
Community
Management
Technology
Time to Market

33. Summary
•Governments around the world are
pursing FOSS/OSS as an economic
strategy
•More research is needed to quantify the
impact of these initiatives.
•We have much to learn from each other,
but must adapt to our local context
•Open minds are needed to build
bridges across the divide between
participants to create a healthy
ecosystem.

34. Thank-you.
Gracias.
Obrigado.
Questions?
¿Preguntas?
Perguntas?

35. For Further
information. Deborah Bryant
deborah@debbryant.com
ph 011.533.8050
irc: debz0r
BryantGroup