The GENIVI Alliance, a non-profit alliance focused on developing an open in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and connectivity software platform for the transportation industry, has announced the GENIVI Challenge Grant Program designed to accelerate delivery of targeted features to enhance the GENIVI Development Platform (GDP).

The GENIVI Challenge Grant Program is open to member and non-member organizations and individuals wishing to develop open source software to advance the alliance’s GDP. Challenge grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded by GENIVI upon contribution of the code and acceptance by the GENIVI development community. Grants will be given to contributors of software adopted by GENIVI into the GDP codebase that meets feature requirements in seven GDP areas of functionality such as in-car data interface and software management including over-the-air updates.

“Given the growing amount of software required in modern vehicles, the industry needs a robust and simple-to-use tool for improving IVI and connected vehicle software that engages a broader base of developers,” said GENIVI Executive Director Steve Crumb. “The Challenge Grant Program provides funding for features that better position the GENIVI Development Platform as that tool and expands the active participation of developers contributing innovative and quality code that makes the platform even better.”

More information on the GENIVI Challenge Grant program can be found on the GENIVI Wiki including a registration form to express interest in participation in the program. GENIVI expects contributions for some of the targeted features by its All Member Meeting during the week of Oct. 17.