Libre Software as an Innovation Enabler in India: Experiences of a Bangalorian Software SME

Free/Libre and open source software (FLOSS) has been advocated for its presumed capacity to support native software industries in developing countries. It is said to create new spaces for exploration and to lower entry barriers to mature software markets, for example. However, little empirical research has been conducted concerning FLOSS business in a developing country setting and, thus, there is not much evidence to support or refute these claims. This paper presents a business case study conducted in India, a country branded as a 'software powerhouse' of the developing world. The findings show how FLOSS has opened up significant opportunities for the case company, especially in terms of improving its innovative capability and upgrading in the software value chain. On the other hand, they also highlight some challenges to FLOSS involvement that rise specifically from the Indian context.