The UK government is backing a National Computing Centre (NCC) test laboratory that aims to prove the viability of open source software applications and configurations for public sector organisations.

The Open Source Laboratory forms part of the Open Source Academy, a national project funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as part of the government's 'e-Innovations' initiative.

"Open source software provides an alternative and potentially more cost efficient way of delivering e-government services over the lifetime of service provision," NCC stated.

"The public sector is traditionally dominated by proprietary solutions with take up of open source technologies relatively low. The creation of the Open Source Laboratory will help public sector organisations evaluate alternatives in an independent test environment without compromising current service delivery."

The Open Source Laboratory is available for use by all public sector organisations and provides technical support and a suite of test bed machines held in a safe area. Access to the service is currently free.

The resources can be configured, possibly in conjunction with a client's own software, to required specifications for testing and evaluation purposes.

NCC will assist clients in defining the tests that will establish the information they are seeking, as well as conducting and reporting the trials.

Ed Downs, project manager for the Open Source Laboratory, said: "The facility provides a safe environment where public sector organisations can test and evaluate innovative technologies and configurations, prove concepts and get answers to specific technical queries without the risk of undertaking the work in their own organisations or compromising existing service delivery.

"Many organisations have heard about the benefits of open source but are wary about implementing solutions due to technical and compatibility considerations.

"The Open Source Laboratory allows potential users to test configurations, evaluate the benefits and build confidence in open source technologies without risk."

The first user of the facility will be Cheshire County Council which is evaluating a joint open source and proprietary software platform for desktop services.