ENACT is paving the way for a sovereign, open European IoT-Edge-Cloud Continuum by leveraging an innovative open-source and community-building strategy. Aligned closely with the Eclipse Foundation’score principles, this approach is designed to maximize adoption and ensure long-term sustainability. ENACT’s vision extends beyond the project’s lifetime, fostering collaboration, innovation, and efficient edge-to-cloud workload management. Here’s how we’re making it happen.
Mapping the Asset Landscape
ENACT began by identifying the assets each partner brings to the table – a process kicked off during the proposal phase and now being refined with technical partners. This foundational step ensures a cohesive open-source ecosystem, setting the stage for impactful contributions.
Defining Our Open-Source Outputs
What will ENACT produce? New tools, an integrated platform, or enhancements to existing partner contributions? By clearly defining which project results will be open-source, we’re creating a consistent framework that evolves throughout the project. This work is already underway and progressing steadily.
Open Development from Day One
We’re building in the open – closed development isn’t an option. Public repositories and training on open-source best practices are already in place, embedding collaboration into ENACT’s core. This approach accelerates integration, boosts community involvement, and enhances knowledge sharing.
Balancing IP and Open Innovation
Licensing is a critical piece of the puzzle. ENACT is adopting business-friendly open-source licenses that encourage commercial use while steering clear of restrictive terms. By continuously monitoring Intellectual Property (IP) and licensing, we’re addressing potential challenges early, ensuring smooth development and adoption.
Engaging Communities Far and Wide
Collaboration is at the heart of ENACT. We’re not just connecting with communities tied to our partners’ contributions – we’re reaching out to new groups that can benefit from or enhance our work. From digital campaigns and hackathons to a robust content strategy, we’re fostering interaction and participation. These efforts align with our dissemination, exploitation, and standardization goals to amplify our impact.
A Timeline for Success
Our strategy unfolds in three phases:
- Landscaping Phase (ended): Identifying assets and target communities.
- Engagement Phase (ongoing): Contributing upstream, hosting events, and connecting with developers.
- Sustainability Phase: Ensuring ENACT’s contributions thrive in communities or spark new open-source projects.
Empowered by the Eclipse Foundation
ENACT’s strategy aligns with the Eclipse Foundation’s proven framework for vendor-neutral, business-friendly open-source projects. This framework rests on five pillars: infrastructure for collaboration, community integration, governance, IP management, and supply chain security. The latter emphasizes securing the software lifecycle – from dependency management to transparency via a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM).
Looking Ahead
By blending open-source innovation with community engagement, ENACT is not just building tools, we’re creating a lasting ecosystem for the IoT-Edge-Cloud Continuum. Stay tuned as we continue this journey and join us at upcoming events to be part of the action.