---
layout: post
title: Open Source BaaS Project In The European Union
image: >-
  http://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/api-evangelist-site/blog/openi-logo.png
author:
  name: kinlane
tags:
  - Open Source
  - Project
  - Europe
  - Open
---
The [Backend as a Service (BaaS)](/trends/baas.php "Backend as a Service") space is picking up momentum in 2013. I’m tracking on 20 BaaS providers, in hopes of better understanding what is being offered in this space. Today I came across an interesting new, open source BaaS platform, being developed in the European Union called [OPENi](http://www.openi-ict.eu/).

The project describes itself as:

> _OPENi is a European Union ICT Framework Programme (FP7) Information and communications technology (ICT) Collaborative project. Over the 30 month project duration we aim to deliver an open-source, cloud based platform for integrating mobile services._

With a mission to:

> _Our mission is to inspire innovation in the European mobile applications industry, by radically improving the interoperability of cloud-based services and trust in personal cloud storage through the development of a consumer-centric, open source mobile cloud applications platform._

With the following objective:

> _OPENi’s objective is to directly address the lack of interoperability between cloud based services and enable applications to access and use a broad spectrum of existing cloud based functionality and content, consistently across different devices and platforms, in a way that enables a user-centric application experience. Targeting the needs of Application Developers, Services Providers and Consumers, OPENi will realize its vision for user-centric, cloud-connected, mobile applications._

OPENi is a 30 month project, we will have to wait and see what comes out of the iniative. With the EU approach to open data and data privacy, I think there is a lot of potential to deploy and consume APIs, as well as delivering API automation, interoperability and backend platforms that have a healthy, consumer-centric approach--which I believe will be good for business, because its good for ender users.

In early 2013 the OPENi team will release software for the BaaS platform as an open-source project on github.com. When released I will evaluate it side by side with the other BaaS providers I”m tracking on.

If you are going to be at [API Strategy & Practice](http://www.apistrategyconference.com/) next week, make sure and watch my Backend as a Service Panel with:

*   Ilya Sukhar ([@ilyasu](https://twitter.com/ilyasu)) of [Parse](http://www.parse.com/)
*   Morgan Bickle ([@morganbickle](https://twitter.com/morganbickle)) of [Kinvey](http://www.kinvey.com/)
*   Marc Weil ([@marcweil](https://twitter.com/marcweil)) of [Cloudmine](https://cloudmine.me/)
*   Miko Matasumura ([@mikojava](https://twitter.com/mikojava)) of [Kii](http://kii.com/)
*   Ty Amell ([@tyamell](https://twitter.com/tyamell)) of [StackMob](https://www.stackmob.com/) 
*   James Tamplin ([@jamestamplin](https://twitter.com/jamestamplin)) of [Firebase](https://www.firebase.com/)

If you have any questions you’d like asked about the future of MBaaS, let me know. I'm going to make it a great conversation!

[![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/baas/openi/openi-concept.png)](http://www.openi-ict.eu/open-source/)