The European Software Institute (ESI) has now established itself as one of the world's major centres for software process improvement. Our strength lies in our close partnership with industry. ESI's business-driven approach focuses on issues that result in a genuine commercial impact, such as reduction of costs and improving productivity.

European Software Institute's technical work is driven by the philosophy of bringing measurable business improvements in the management and development of software intensive systems for both individual companies and the software-related industry as a whole. In partnership with its patrons, ESI identifies relevant emerging process improvement technologies. We then mature these methodologies through research, trials and close collaboration with business. Finally, we help companies to adapt the methodologies to their own organisation or industry.

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The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) provides leadership in advancing the state of software engineering practice. We collaborate with industry, academia, and the government to learn about the best technical and management practices and then use what we learn to benefit the software engineering community.

The SEI program of work consists of initiatives grouped into three areas of software engineering: technical practices (especially product engineering principles and methods), management practices, and independent research and development (IRAD) activities. The COTS-Based Systems Initiative is grouped with other technical practice initiatives like Performance Critical Systems, Product Line Practice, Architecture Tradeoff Analysis, and Survivable Systems.

The institute is based at Carnegie Mellon University and is sponsored by the U.S. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics [OUSD (AT&L)].

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The National Research Council (NRC), Canada's premier science and technology research organization, is a leader in scientific and technical research, the diffusion of technology, and the dissemination of scientific and technical information.

Working in partnership with innovative companies, universities and research organizations world wide, NRC enhances Canada's social and economic well-being and creates new opportunities for Canadians. Through knowledge, research and innovation, NRC and its partners are expanding the frontiers of science and technology. The Institute for Information Technology is one of the National Research Council's research institutes. Its mission is to assist industry through collaborative research and development projects.

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