I've been giving some thought about how VMware can play a part in supporting researchers and instructors during the current economic strain. Everybody's budgets are being cut and less and less funding is available from both government and industry. So, what can industrial partners to the academic community do to help? Cold hard cash is always good, but here are a few other ideas to think about:

- Free software licenses - VMware makes most of their software freely available to support research projects and classroom activities that depend on virtualization tools. Even the really pricey stuff is free if the project qualifies as a virtualization or related effort. It would be great if other industrial partners did the same.

- Discounted/used hardware - once and awhile, a not-so-old server, SAN or even network gear needs to come out of a data center somewhere. Industrial partners need to remember that many research and teaching labs would benefit from something that is only a year or so old. Make a match! Post something on govirtual.org's Grants and Funding Opportunities discussion group if you know of available equipment or know of someone in need of such equipment.

- Pro-bono support - many researchers and faculty are using software that was purchased via grant/gift money, but don't always have the high-end support packages necessary to help with set-up, configuration and on-going troubleshooting. Even a couple of hours of on-site or telephone support free of charge can be quite useful to a research team. Industrial partners should consider adding this type of work to their community service agenda in 2009.

These are just some of my ponderings. Please blog or add to the Grants and Funding Opportunities discussion group if you have other ideas.

Meanwhile, we will continue to explore how VMware's academic program (VMAP) will increase its support of research and education funding. Look for more details in early 2009.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!