Overview

Host

Center of International Cooperation for Computerization, Japan

Co-host

Linux Users Group, Singapore

Date

November 3^nd - 4^th, 2003
(Only registration on Nov. 2^nd)

Venue

Pan Pacific Hotel
Address: 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039595
Tel: (65) 6336-8111 Fax:(65) 6539-1861
http://singapore.panpacific.com/

Background

 The last ten years have seen dramatic growths in the popularity of Open Source Software (OSS) in all sectors - government, business, academic, research & development as well as education. A recognized and often cited advantage of OSS is in the operation/development of high level of security in the code base as well as the dramatic reduction of development costs principally driven by the reuse of existing, proven code. The ability to leverage existing code is generally seen to enhance software business competitiveness and significantly greater innovation in the industry in general.

A major beneficiary of these technologies are the lesser developed economies who are generally dependent on the ability to push national development on the basis of the availability of low-cost computing devices on which OSS are able to function very well.

It is felt that while there are numerous organizations, communities and agencies promoting the development of Open Source Software, there is an urgent need to help set some direction and goal setting in what is otherwise a haphazard and undirected process. A regional sharing of knowlegde and experience in this realm is needed.

With the preceding considerations, the inaugural "Asia Open Source Software Symposium" was held in March, 2003 at Phuket, Thailand. It was sponsored by Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC), Japan, and National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand. Over 100 OSS participants shared their experiences and explored challenges they faced in the promotion of OSS in each of their respective economies. The resulting document, "The Statement from the Asia Open Source Software Symposium 2003 (Phuket Statement)", embodied their vision, hopes and challenges.

The "Second Asia Open Source Software Symposium" was called for in that document and it will be held in Singapore from November 2nd-4th. This event will be sponsored by the CICC and Linux Users' Group (Singapore) (LUGS). Succeeding from the 1st symposium, information sharing as well as promoting collaborative developmental activities amongst participating economies will be encouraged. At the same time, important topics including Human Resource Development will be discussed.

Objectives

• To update and share activities /developments of OSS adoption/awareness in each economy since after 1st OSS symposium
• To discuss specific topics which are common amongst the participating economies
• To build a concrete, co-operative community and embark on the effective projects, based on each economy's level and needs
• To establish management system of OSS community, in order to encourage and promote OSS community for the further collaboration

Participants

Participants can be classified into following groups;

• Official organization (including IT policy makers)
• Official-funded Research and development (R&D) groups
• Business / industry sector utilizing OSS, such as System integrators, electronics appliance manufactures etc
• Academic and educational sector including universities and computer training organizations focussing on Human Resource Development
• Supporting /community group such as OSS supporting associations

Total number of participants: About 70 participants (closed, invitation-only format)

Representative of each economy, who participated in the Inaugural AOSS Symposium, participated this 2nd AOSS symposium.

The following economies were represented at this second symposium: Singapore, Japan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.