The following is a non-exhaustive overview of themes and topics of activities OpenCloudification will be working on, from the perspective of sharing expertise and knowledge:
- Cloud 2022-2030 basic concepts.
- Cloud usage models, cost models & business cases.
- The sense (and nonsense) of open-source for Cloud.
- Success and inspiration stories, funding opportunities.
- State-of-the-art, innovative developments useful for tech companies.
- Opportunities for sovereignty, legal possibilities and limitations.
- How to move from VM-based cloud applications to more flexible container-based applications.
- How to handle the orchestration of cloud resources (processing nodes, storage, users, tasks, etc.).
- How to install and configure cloud-based applications/components and then automate them (e.g., CI/CD and IaC).
- How to manage application data flows in a cloud-native way.
- How to perform upgrades of cloud applications and underlying orchestration components.
- How to monitor application response times, cloud resource consumption and alerts.
- How to secure cloud applications against accidental use/abuse.
- How to secure the data in the cloud.
- How to integrate edge devices into the Cloud.
- How to transform existing cloud applications (or parts of them) into serverless applications.
- How to incorporate open-source cloud components, preparatory activities, required resources, etc.
- Limitations of open-source, licensing and royalty considerations.
- Experiments, tools and documents, hands-on experiences, learning by example and by mistake.
From a joining company’s perspective, we list some of the additional benefits you might expect from this project, defined as our valorization end-goals:
- Internal product innovations. Developments by companies already actively engaged in cloud technology, but through advanced concepts, their products can evolve in a supported way.
- Internal process innovations. Improved cloud adoption and more thoughtful technology choices to achieve increased cost efficiency.
- Follow-up projects. Grants for cooperative demand-driven research, through thematic calls including cloud technologies.
- Interfaces with the AI and CyberSecurity programs of the Flemish Government. Each of these broad cases needs cloud technology to be deployed. Within the AI program, there is also a need for AI task orchestration and for dataflow optimization.
- SMEs growth. It will grant development or research projects (via VLAIO or other supporting organizations) to explore new markets and opportunities for cloud-based product innovations.
- EU projects (Horizon Europe IA, RIA and SME call, smaller INNOSUP projects, etc.).
- Internal increase. Refocusing people to improve internal cloud expertise and cloud product management. Additional employment in the short to medium term.
- International expansion. By adopting scalable technologies, a larger sales audience can be reached.
- New partners. Thanks to the project, new collaborations will arise between tech companies among themselves.