Using the Hourglass Model for open source development in research

"Using the Hourglass Model for Open Source Development in Research," presented by Antonio Kung, Léo Cornec, Dr Cécile Rabrait, Estibaliz Arzoz, and Diana Jimenez (Trialog), focuses on applying a layered ecosystem model to identify and structure open source opportunities in research projects. This session is part of the Open Community for Research at Open Community Experience 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. This session introduces the Hourglass Model as a framework for structuring digital ecosystems by linking stakeholders, capabilities, standards, and open source components. The model defines layered architectures where a narrow interoperability layer connects demand and supply, enabling reuse, interoperability, and standardisation across complex systems. The methodology is applied across multiple EU-funded projects, including cloud-edge IoT, energy systems, data spaces, cybersecurity, and agriculture. Each application maps stakeholders to capabilities, identifies minimum interoperability mechanisms, and defines supporting standards and open source building blocks. Examples include federated marketplaces for data exchange, AI-based service libraries for energy optimisation, and digital twin platforms for agriculture and environmental monitoring. The framework also incorporates ecosystem maturity stages, moving from technology push to market push and ultimately market pull. It evaluates open source readiness, innovation maturity, and community growth, ensuring that solutions are reusable, standard-compliant, and adoptable beyond research contexts. A supporting toolkit defines four stages of ecosystem analysis, from stakeholder identification and high-level architecture mapping to in-depth validation and trust label definition. These steps guide the transition from research outputs to deployable open source components aligned with standards and regulatory requirements. Key topics covered - hourglass model for ecosystem architecture - stakeholder to capability mapping - interoperability layer design - integration of standards and open source components - cloud edge iot and data space ecosystems - federated marketplaces and data exchange - ai-based services for energy systems - digital twin platforms for agriculture and industry - toolkit-based ecosystem analysis methodology - trust labels and standard compliance frameworks Why this matters Research projects often produce isolated outputs that are difficult to reuse or scale. This framework provides a structured approach to align stakeholders, technologies, and standards, enabling interoperable systems and increasing the likelihood of adoption in real-world deployments. About OCX26 Open Community Experience 2026 is the Eclipse Foundation’s flagship event, held in Brussels, Belgium. It brings together developers, architects, and industry leaders to explore open source technologies across domains including AI, automotive, tooling, and cloud systems, with a focus on practical implementation. Learn more at https://www.ocxconf.org/ Chapters 00:00 introduction to the hourglass model 00:27 linking research, standards, and open source 01:19 ecosystem layering and stakeholder mapping 02:03 interoperability and reuse principles 03:25 ecosystem segmentation and maturity stages 04:36 open source readiness and community growth 05:26 application to cloud edge iot ecosystem 08:23 interoperability mechanisms in oci project 10:18 edge iot architecture and data space integration 14:07 cybersecurity and identity ecosystem mapping 19:10 digital agriculture and drone-based systems 26:02 ecosystem toolkit methodology and stages 29:05 trust label analysis and deployment readiness