SURF is scaling up trial of Microsoft alternative and is looking for testers

A pilot project by the IT cooperative SURF aimed at phasing out American software has already prompted thirty institutions to take action. Around a thousand people are now using an alternative, and SURF is making room for more test users.

Last November, SURF called on its education and research institutions to sign up for a pilot. Did they want to help make colleges and universities less reliant on American software? Currently, tech companies in the US can bring education in the Netherlands to a standstill at the touch of a button.

There was room for two thousand test users, and the first thousand are now working with the alternative Nextcloud, says SURF. They are sharing their files with colleagues, making video calls, chatting with one another, and may soon be able to use a built-in AI assistant.

Twelve universities

The German Nextcloud works with open standards, making it possible to use it alongside competing programmes. This reduces users’ dependence on a single provider. Nextcloud is also open source: anyone can view the source code and suggest improvements if they wish.

In recent months, thirty SURF members have signed up for the pilot. Participants include four universities of applied sciences, twelve universities, six research institutions and two university medical centres. SURF does not wish to name names, but it is known that TU Delft is taking part. Also, staff can use Nextcloud to store data.

The IT cooperative is now expanding the pilot. “We’ve noticed there’s a lot of interest in gaining practical experience with Nextcloud,” says spokesperson Tom Hoven. The pilot will run until the end of this year. After that, it remains to be seen whether Nextcloud deserves a place in the standard software offering for education and research institutions.

HOP, Olmo Linthorst