Comcast has earmarked an unspecified amount of money for third-party technology research projects, including one dedicated to developing open-source home gateway software.
The new Comcast Technology Research & Development Fund “will increase the resources we devote to research and development and reflects our commitment to keeping our company a leader in technology,” Jason Livingood, Comcast’s vice president of Internet and communications engineering, wrote in a blog post Monday.
Comcast is not disclosing the amounts of the grants, senior director of corporate communications Jenni Moyer said. The MSO anticipates announcing grant recipients at least two times per year.
In addition to financial support, researchers selected to participate in the program will have access to Comcast’s network data and “hands-on support from our extensive and experienced network of engineers,” Livingood wrote.
The first recipients under the program are: a new Open Home Gateway Forum to develop open source-based home gateway software; RIPE Atlas, RIPE NCC’s global Internet measurement network that will now expand more fully in the U.S.; and SIGCOMM 2013, a research conference focused on data communications applications, technologies, architectures. and protocols.
More info on the Comcast Technology Research & Development Fund is available at http://techfund.comcast.com.
