30 Minute Interview

“We are soon going to start an Open Source incubator”

Pradeep Tagare Senior Investment Manager Intel Capital

What is the status of Linux at Intel?

For Intel, Linux is an important area. We are encouraging Linux on the development front. In India, we are aggressively working towards strengthening our presence in the Linux market.

What new initiatives you are taking in the Indian market?

We are soon going to start an Open Source incubator for Indian industry. As part of that, we will provide four features for the benefit of any company which wants to get associated with us. The key feature is funding of any Open Source project to the extent of $100,000 to $2 million. The second feature will be access to all 13 Intel innovation labs worldwide. The third is a business plan offer for entrepreneurs entering the Open Source market, and lastly, helping companies get funding for their business.

Where will this incubator be located in India? When will the funding of projects start?

We have not yet finalised the location of the Open Source incubator. But it is likely that it will be placed in Bangalore where Intel’s Innovation Lab is up and running. As for funding, talks are on with different agencies to fund our first project in India.

How many projects are you looking at funding in your first year?

By the end of our first year here, we should have some three to five projects funded by us. By one year I mean 12 months from now.

What kind of projects does Intel intend to fund?

We are open to many areas. Globally we have funded several infrastructure-based projects, but in India we are looking at three industry segments— enterprise software, consumer service and digital home.

What are the key challenges facing the Indian Open Source market?

Lack of funds is a major challenge for young Indian entrepreneurs who want to explore the Open Source market. Growing awareness about the utilities and usefulness of this technology is still an issue that needs to be looked into. Removing the so-called ‘misconceptions’ regarding Open Source is also important.

What are the areas in which the Open Source community has to have an aggressive approach to make it successful?

I observe that the Indian Open Source community has to make the masses aware about Linux’s easy-to-use features. Service and support is also an aspect which needs to be addressed at every point of time. Generating quality trained manpower will also be an important point for embarking on the future of the Open Source market in India.

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