CNIPA sets up the Open Source Observatory

CNIPA, the Italian National Center for Computer Technology inside the Public Administration, noticed the great growth of Open Source and its fast diffusion across the world, and decided, according to the Minister of Innovation and Technology directive of 19 December 2003 (G.U. 7 February 2004, n°31), to set up the Open Source Observatory.

CNIPA main aim is to support Public Administration in successfully using information technology in order to improve its service quality and to reduce costs.
For this reason the Center created an Observatory aiming to help the meeting between supply and demand of Open Source products and services for Public Administration. It can also organize support activities for the adoption of Open Source software and encourage experience exchanges with similar EU centers.

The starting point will be the collection of information on the current use of Open Source in single administrative unities, to evaluate what kind of product is used, the requirements met and reference companies.
Then, Universities will be involved: they will be able to report research projects related to Open Source.

Observatory goals are the same of those set in the main European countries and are part of the initiatives included in the UE IDA program.

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