Global IT giant IBM Corp has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka government to promote e-learning initiatives in the state based on open source technology.

The MoU, the first of its kind in the country, envisages IBM developing an e-learning platform for the Board of IT Education Standards (for higher technical educational institutions) in Karnataka.

The e-learning platform will be based on the principles of cost-effective technologies and neutral to software/hardware strategies.

The long-term strategy is to develop educational institutions in the state as centers of excellence with one such eco-system.

In association with the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-B) and BITES, IBM India will also set up a center of excellence at Hubli in north Karnataka to develop open source software.

IBM India country executive Frank Luksic and Karnataka IT secretary Vivek Kulkarni signed the MoU in Bangalore on Wednesday, in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna and IBM Corporation senior vice-president Steve Mills.

The IBM's center of excellence will operate from IIIT-B's branch in Hubli, located in the Software Technology Park of India, set up by the Union government early this year.

According to IIIT-B director S Sadagopan, about 100 students are already working on the Linux platform to develop applications and enabling products.

The number of students for e-learning will be ramped to 300 once the existing facility is expanded with the IBM investment in tools, software and course materials.

Incidentally, Infosys' Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy has recently donated Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) to the development of the IIIT-B branch facility at Hubli, where she hails from.

Referring to Palmisano's three-day visit to India, Luksic said IBM was committed to the development of open source technology in the sub-continent, and associating with the Indian governments in promoting e-learning.

The presence of high skilled engineers in India facilitates IBM to capitalise on the resource talent and tap the potential of the domestic IT market.

"The MoU with the Karnataka government is the first initiative of IBM in promoting open source software development. Our investment in e-learning platform and in the center of excellence at Hubli is a testimony of our commitment to promote higher technical education in India.

The initiative will also act as a springboard for our future IBM investments, as open source technology is gaining acceptance with groundswell of support from developers and users' community," Luksic stated.

With customers worldwide expecting their technology infrastructure and solutions to work in tandem with hardware, software and solutions from multiple vendors, the development of reusable solutions through the open source software will put an end to the era of proprietary systems.