26 February 2007

The National Open Centre (NOC), which aims to promote standards and innovation, has hosted its official launch today.

Taking place in parliament and hosted by John Hemming MP, the event will see a number of speakers outlining the benefits they believe open source to bring in education and European cooperation.

The NOC believes that open source has the potential to "shape IT in the UK", boosting the economy and helping youngsters to become capable and literate in computing.

Dr Barbara Held, a representative of the European commission's Interoperable Delivery of eGovernment Services to public Administrations, Businesses and Citizens programme, will explain the ways in which open source could improve pan-European collaboration.

"We need such national focal points that push for openness and interoperability to create pan-European synergies," comments Dr Held.

Birmingham has already established a National Open Centre, designed to be the UK's lynchpin in the development of open source and open standards.

© Adfero Ltd

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