Tuscany to increase use of Open Source

Both the administration of the Tuscany region and the Pisa province, the University of Pisa and the Navacchio business development centre (Polo Technologico) signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday of last week "to promote research and technology dissemination and application of Open Source solutions".

The four organisations agreed to fund an Open Source centre, run by the province of Pisa. Its objective is to extend the use of Open Source software in education, for research and by business. The centre will begin by offering training initiatives for technical and administrative staff of public administrations and enterprises.

In a statement, the vice-president of the Tuscany Region, Federico Gelli, said the activities should help give the Open Source centre in Pisa national importance and lead to increasing uses of this type of software and ensure its quality and affordability.

The administration of the Tuscany region is itself increasing its use of Open Source applications on its desktop PCs, writes Gelli on his own website. It also is turning to Open Source applications for government projects, he said. There are currently 45 projects that are using Open Source software.

The Pisa province has been raising awareness on Open Source since 2000, said Patrizia Marchetti, responsible for the provincial IT systems. She says Open Source software is essential for the development of an information society, modernise the government and to help it to take care of its citizens.

Pisa University rector Marco Pasquali welcomed "the commitment to innovative initiatives on issues widely debated and for which the University has a long tradition."