The first Morfeo Free Software General Meeting took place on the 28th of February 2008. The evaluation given by the Board was unanimously positive.
The main aim, which was successfully achieved, was to get everyone together who had participated, one way or another, in the community activities over the years. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those present, especially those who had to travel from various remote parts of the peninsula.
We would like to take this opportunity to present the main aims and expectations for the New Year that, without a doubt make up an excellent covering letter for new attendees.
We have put together a list of things-to-do this year. The list, which is shown below, also states which community members are to carry out each task:
· Expand and improve community services (UPM, URJC, TID). The growing number of new projects and new members requires special attention to made to the quality of services provided by the community, as well as to new facilities. With this in mind, the Board has identified the following main points:
o Reduction in response time for project creation and the deployment of the associated infrastructure.
o Deployment of document management services and content.
o Deployment of the infrastructure for training members in community technologies and free technologies in general.
o Strengthen the community’s social network support mechanisms.
o Strengthen the reconciliation solution mechanisms between demand and provision of professional services.
o Incorporation of services and project evaluation measurements.
· Update the Board Community organization (UPM, TID, URJC). Reflect the up-to-date situation.
· Develop training and certification programmes (ITI, PCYTA, ESI, CTIC, ESI). The success of the Morfeo conference has forced us to provide an infrastructure and resources so that content knowledge in the Community reaches all members. This objective aims to provide the tools and contents so that the Technology Centres can provide these services within their companies. From now on, the established infrastructures and organizations should allow the appropriate technological transfers from free software communities, universities and research centres to value-creating businesses and organizations.
· Promote technological transfer (YACO, ITI, CENTIC, CTIC, CodeSyntax). The community is currently the holder of huge technological capital, therefore the need to employ revitalisation and deployment actions is essential. This should strengthen the creation of projects and commercial actions.
· Incubate new technologies and technological platforms (PCYTA, TID, CENTIC, CTIC).. The main aim of this task is to develop service oriented platforms; in the context of Hospital Information Systems, Business Management Systems (in particular those that support ERP and CRM applications and Public Administration Information Systems). Financing programs, such as AVANZA, CEMIT or FP7 should help to support this initiative.
· Expansion in Latin America (PCYTA, ESI, TID). Throughout this period, it has become evident that Latin America could seriously benefit from the expansion process. Financing programmes, such as Iberoeka, should support this initiative.
· Strengthen alliance and collaboration strategies (UPM, URJC, TID). The Morfeo Community continues to be a reference point in numerous projects, organizations and institutions; in particular organizations such as INES, NESSI and the QualiPSo project. National institutions, such as CENATIC, make up clear reference points. This role, which was obtained by our innovative character in the field of free technologies, secures itself over clear, bidirectional channels of communication. It will therefore be necessary to create a firm strategy so that these channels can be used.
· Strengthen general communication. This task includes the following main actions:
o Internet Positioning (UPM, URJC). Examples of things-to-do with regards to Internet Positioning include posting news feeds to the European Projects Observatory, IDAC and other internet forums. Similar methods of communication should also be available internally, so that community members are able to announce their participation to the rest of the community.
o Create a Scientific / Technical Blog (TID, URJC, UPM). The blog should mention the strategic plans of the Morfeo project, to lay the foundations for the collaboration of the INES free software group. The blog should also mention future internet participation, strategic agendas, strategic evolution of the Morfeo project, and the participation of the community in organizations, such as the future Competence Centre of the QualiPSo network in Spain.
o Participate in congresses and conferences (TID, URJC, UPM, ITI, YACO). Such as the International Conference on Free Software which will take place in Malaga later this year.
o Develop press releases. Develop press notes along with the appropriate news organization and create web space, which will be used to incorporate any important declarations.
We hope that, with the collaboration of all members, and the incorporation of tasks carried out throughout the year, by the next meeting all objectives will be accomplished.
