Many in North America perceive the CAPE-OPEN standards, the CO projects, and the CAPE-OPEN Laboratories Network (CO-LaN) to be European activities, but the efforts are truly global. In fact, CO has North American roots - Hans-Horst Mayer (BASF) and Peter Banks (BP) met in 1994 in Snowmass, Colorado, USA at a FOCAPD meeting and the concept of a plug and play standard for process simulation was brought forth.  Also, DuPont (Jim Trainham/Peter Edwards) was an early and strong proponent, hosting a key meeting near the Wilmington Experimental Station prior to the initial CAPE-OPEN project. After all, many of the users and providers of CAPE software are North American, with a large process industry base and a large number of CAPE software developers.

There is a real chance and need for more engagement by North American companies, organizations, and universities in the CO movement and the CO-LaN.  When there is a need for expansion or improvement of a CO standard, the CO-LaN Special Interest Groups welcome all comers. When changing or extending a CO standard can offer a new value-capture opportunity, the CO-LaN needs to address it. This can happen best when those who have a stake in the problem join together to address it. Industrial members can guide the priorities, and all members can work on finding the optimum solution.

Currently, there are a dozen or so North American members of the CO-LaN - a broad consortium of users, software developers, and academics working together in common cause, sorting out their differences, and getting things done! But there is certainly room for more. Consider the CO-LaN to be the pilot house of the ship of software open standards.  By joining the CO-LaN, you gain entry to that pilot house, helping steer the effort in a direction that supports your needs. With today's ease of communication, there are minimal barriers to participation in the day to day activities.  Software providers, universities, and consortia (etc.) pay no dues to join the CO-LaN, yet they gain access to the leading edge of CAPE practitioners. Annual dues for industrial companies are very reasonable in the context of the value that the CO standards can offer to major users.

So take off the blinders - the CO movement is global, and North America can play a much stronger role.

Kerry Irons, Editor

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