Call for European companies

FOSS Bridge "EU-Vietnam" organized two calls for applications from European companies interested in teaming up with Vietnamese FOSS-companies for joint software projects. See reference of the calls below (as of 2008).

What can I get out of FOSS Bridge "EU-Vietnam" as a European FOSS company?

You will have the opportunity to:

• Develop joint businesses in a very attractive market (average of 7,5% GDP growth in the last 15 years, emerging market for IT services and solutions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
• Direct access to high-quality IT-small and medium sized companies and communities in Vietnam who are working in similar technical fields to you
• Contributions to your FOSS projects and your open source code base
• Reduce investment and risk through matchmaking services of FOSS Bridge "EU-Vietnam"
• Get in touch with relevant Vietnamese intermediaries such as Linux user groups, developer and business groups
• Get financial support for travel through a dedicated support scheme for companies with limited own resources (for more information see pdf.)
• Promote FOSS as a public good and develop joint strategies for increasing the usage of Free and Open Source Software and practices in Vietnam

The project offers a dedicated support scheme for companies with a strong motivation for partnership, but limited own resources. The support scheme will be able to offer limited financial support for travel and related expenses following the following criteria:
- strong proposal for joint project/partnership with Vietnamese partner company - proven restricted investment possibilities 
- willingness to make non-monetary investments (see section "What do I need to invest?")
- business strategy of company for internationalization (see "eligibility criteria")<
- experience in online collaborative work in a multicultural environment (see "eligibility criteria" - experience in handling or working in a similar project  (see "eligibility criteria"
- participation in active community or FOSS network (see "eligibility criteria" >

In which field of FOSS applications and services can I team up with a Vietnamese company?

Our Vietnamese partner companies mostly wish for co-operation in the following technical fields:  J2EE, Service Oriented Architecture & Enterprise Service Business, Web Portal (java based), Portlets, CMS, Business Intelligence, e-government systems. 
However, all other fields of FOSS development are of potential interest. Please apply and propose your specialty, we will try our best to find a good partner for you.

What does my company need to invest?

As a European company taking part in the programme, you should be willing to 

• Execute and supervise a two year collaboration process with one or more Vietnamese SME on a specific FOSS business project
• Invest in a sustainable partnership. Monetary investments are projected as follows: 2 flights Europe-Vietnam, 2 weeks accommodation Vietnam, approx. 3400€ per person - However, you may be eligible for our dedicated support scheme for companies with limited own resources (see above), so we would encourage you to register even if you are not in a position to commit all monetary investment at this stage. Only registered candidates will be eligible for the support scheme.
• Invest staff time for matchmaking, online-collaboration, coaching, training and networking over the 2 years period of the project.
• Send at least one developer/FOSS-expert or manager to Vietnam in November 2007 (from Nov.12 to nov. 16) and mid 2008
• Provide reporting of joint activities with the Vietnamese company to FOSS Bridge "EU-Vietnam".

Am I eligible?

First of all, you should be a European company in the IT industry interested in expanding your business on Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) to the growing Vietnamese market. Also, you should ideally fulfil the following criteria:

• You should be a company registered within the European Union.
• You should have a minimum number of 5 developers/FOSS-experts and at least one developer/FOSS-expert with excellent English skills, both spoken and written;  knowledge of the Vietnamese language is an advantage.
• You should belong to an active community or FOSS network (advantage)
• You should have experience in online collaborative work and tools, if possible in a multicultural environment
• Consistency of the participation to the FOSS-Bridge "EU-Vietnam" with an existing business strategy of your company for internationalization (in Vietnam or Asia an advantage)
• Experience in handling or working in a similar project is an advantage

How do I apply and find a partner in Vietnam?

It's easy:

1. Go at online registration  -  this step does not entail any binding commitment on your part 
2. We will come back to you after a quick check of eligibility 
3. You will receive access to our matchmaking tools, were you will fill in an extended profile which will enable all partners to find good counterparts 
4. You can start the matchmaking process by browsing through the profiles of potential Vietnamese partners

What are the next steps, dates and deadlines?

• Deadline for pre-registration: August 15th, 2007 - Deadline postponed to August 31th!
• Deadline to fill in company profile : August 20th, 2007-  Deadline postponed to August 31th!
• Full registration, selection and online matchmaking: until beginning of September 2007
• Start of online collaboration: September 2007 until mid 2009
• First face-to-face workshop in Vietnam: mid November 2007 (nov. 12nd to nov. 16th)
• Second face-to-face workshop in Vietnam: mid 2008

What we are not looking for:

The Foss-Bridge "EU-Vietnam" project is not about:

• Outsourcing: our aim is to foster Southeast Asian software industries and boost cooperation with Europe through innovative collaboration on FOSS business development. We therefore seek to establish cooperation between companies, nurtured equally by both sides and beneficial to customers in both countries - to build a bridge. We believe that FOSS provides a suitable system for business models which go beyond outsourcing towards such win-win-scenarios.
• Pure sales channel in Vietnam: our aim is to build equal partnerships between European and Vietnamese companies, which are mutually beneficial and which go beyond pure sales channels towards joint development, servicing and business strategies serving local and global markets.
• Academic partnerships: while we appreciate that many FOSS projects are hosted by and driven through academic organizations, we are looking for opportunities for companies to engage in collaboration. However spin-off/service companies of projects and consortia of freelance developers are welcome.

What are other actions under FOSS Bridge "EU-Vietnam"? How can I contribute?

FOSS Bridge "EU-Vietnam" has three main objectives in order to strengthen the Southeast Asian software industries:

• Enable intermediaries of the Vietnamese IT-sector to spread key knowledge on how to make business with free and open source software
• Fostering a Vietnamese software industry that is capable of providing localised FOSS applications and services to government and businesses – with SMEs serving as the national driver of technological innovation.
• Develop business partnerships between software players in Asia and Europe in order to foster mutual business activities and regional and international networking.