SUN European Education and Research Conference 2009 - Day One

Today is the first day of this three day event which is being hosted by SUN Microsystems in Berlin. This morning therefore involved an early 4am start and included an interesting descent into a combined snowstorm and thunderstorm. Might have been a good idea to bring a hat and scarf! The opening session begins with:

Introduction and Welcome – Robert Bergkvist, Regional Director Europe, Government, Education and Research, Healthcare – SUN Microsystems

• Key partners and representatives in Europe. A mix of partners (vendor exhibition/pavilion), customers (17 of these) and SUN executives (from CEO onwards). The US event is 500+ delegates, this event is 150+ delegates – aiming for a regional focus. Born at Stanford University 27 years of busines – the network is the computer (just so no-one ever forgets they relentlessly remind). $2 Billion annual investment in R&D. A win-win situation from the education endorsement of products and services which transfers into the commercial space. SUN has delivered 20 Petabytes (20k Terrabytes) in last few months to tier one customers.

SUNs value proposition to Education – Joe Hartley, Vice President Government, Education and Research, Healthcare – SUN Microsystems

• Download stats for Universities - 20k students or staff who have downloaded SUN open source (free) products from just 7 of the European Universities here today in the last 6 months: creating a virtual developer community. Making the investment in students through the SUN academic initiative (17k learning events this year), open source clubs (OSUM 75k students enrolled from 1400 Universities since Sept 09) and campus ambassadors (520 worldwide). Bradford has one of these.
  
• CEO highlights that students and Universities one of the few brightspots globally and it is innovation that will lead us out of recession. SUN wishing to do everything they can do to extend the student experience and activity.
• Student from Turkey (one of the five campus ambassadors present) who has studied in UK, and is now studying in Stockholm. More interested in free and open beer rather than free and open software!! More seriously, working on a water quality research project using wireless technology sunspots in developing countries collaborating with 5 other global students. Swedish program for ICT in developing regions. Planning to implement in Malawi as a prototype in 2009. A very polished presentation.
• WOW - mention of Bradford - Joe says one of the most innovative programs in the world in terms of the BSF initiative. Technology being developed inside the school - messaging software, moodle rooms and learner environments. He showed some photos of the school site visits that he made in 2008 which included a visit to the University of course.

Suggested that we join the community conversation here which is a new community initiative.

• Another campus ambassador - this student studying IT Entrepreneurship at Master Level again in Stockholm. Providing an open standard software product (delivered via a CD) to convert a PC into a router - early adopters in Malawi and Mozambique - believes open source has potential in terms of the business models for new business.
• Something called the Dunbar number - which is the maximum number of people that humans are able to interact with on a community basis. As there are 150+ people in the room makes a nice link.

Tea Break (I may not keep this level of detail up!)