I’m adding more details on the most interesting aspects of the possible funding of libre software RtD projects in IST FP6 in the forecoming Call 5 (followup to my previous post).
As I said, I think there should be plenty of oportunities for actors in the libre software field to get funding in the fore-coming call 5. Here, I will comment and draw your attention on the documents that were provided at the Info day, since they contain very valuable informations.
The slides The Strategic Objective “Software services” by David Callahan (Deputy Head of the Software Technologies Unit at the Information Society Directorate) state clearly what the Commission is expecting in proposals related to Open Source :
Research into technologies specifically supporting the development, deployment, evolution and benchmarking of open source software. Investigation into the use of open source models for improving software engineering. This investigation should be based on agreed indicators of productivity and quality and result in a measurement of the economic impact of OSS.
(slide 11).
The funding instruments should be only IPs or STREPs (but you’d better check in the call when it’s published, or ask confirmation from the Commission), which seems to indicate that the Commission is expecting projects producing real deliverables and not only studies and/or coordination.
Nevertheless, from what I’ve understood, they are not willing to fund directly libre projects, which would be only delivering libre tools, for instance. The goal is more to produce tools (or other means) which will help creating, using, adopting more and more libre software in Europe. So meta-tools should fit perfectly. One example is I think the PyPy project funded in previous calls whose goal is to improve Python, as a generic way to foster creation of new libre software.
Now, the difficult part is beyond us : organising into consortium and establishing good proposals. Of course the rules for participation are quite strict and may not fit best for libre projects, since FP6 is mainly an industry-oriented programme… But anyway, I think the first step should be to read the excellent “Five golden rules” (for Proposal submission in IST) document by Tom McKinlay. This document gives very interesting figures on typical project size and duration for instance.
In addition to these elements, I would strongly advice those interested in participating to Call 5 of FP6, to go and talk to the officers of the Commission who are in charge of this call, to try and have their feeling on your ideas for proposals. Although there are plenty of informations available online, I think it is much worth talking to the Commission, and seems to be the standard habit. I’m not very experienced though, but I think that it’s what surprised me most when I participated in proposals preparation : one should not hesitate to contact people of the Commission. There’s no need to be shy, to be quiet not to want to disturb the Commission people or interfere in the process. They won’t be bribed anyway (I hope ;), and will refuse to tell you if they can’t give some kind of elements, but they’re available, and can be contacted directly quite easily, so why not try ? … Disclaimer : of course this is only my perception and in no way represents any other opinion than my very own 😉
Best luck for all proposers !
For more details, check the documents in http://www.cordis.lu/ist/directorate_d/st-ds/infoday_stds_220405.htm, untils the Call is officially launched.