The Linux Foundation (LF), the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, and the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA), a Japanese government research institute supporting open source software and IT infrastructure development, today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement.
The LF and IPA will work together to accelerate adoption of Linux and open source software in areas of technology development, standardization and legal activities. The two organizations will kick off their collaboration activities at the User Conference at the IPA Forum 2007, being held October 30, 2007 at the Meiji Kinen-kan in Tokyo, Japan.
This announcement comes during a time of heightened interest in open source use in Japan. Recent examples include the increasing use of Linux in consumer electronics devices manufactured in Japan and the Tokyo Stock Exchange's decision to use Linux for its next generation enterprise system. In July 2007, the Japanese government made open standards adoption a priority for all government IT procurements. The government has stated it has budgeted JPY1.25 trillion, or US $10.4 billion, on IT spending over the next year and will also develop a Linux-based system for its legal registration system.
"Japanese companies and developers have been strong supporters of the LF since Day One. We're determined to do more to support Linux and open source developers in Japan," said Jim Zemlin, executive director of The Linux Foundation. "This agreement is part of the LF's aggressive regional promotion activities and an important way for the open source community to continue to expand."
The analyst firm Gartner has predicted that open source software use will continue to grow throughout Asia, with 60 percent of large and mid-size government agencies using it in their core business processes by 2010, compared to less than 15 percent in late 2004.
"Our two organizations are leading the adoption and use of Linux and open source software, and by working together on joint summits, technology developments and legal activities, we can help Japanese companies promote the use of Linux," said Buheita Fujiwara, chairman of the Information-technology Promotion Agency. "Japanese open source software will continue to play a very important role in the worldwide open source revolution."
With regard to the IPA Forum 2007 and its User Conference, please visit http://ipa.go.jp/event/opaforum2007/