To this end, the company's plans were focussed on proliferating its core technologies like Java and Solaris through open source development programmes, to work closely with Indian companies as an infrastructure support partner and create a network-centric knowledge capital, according to Sun Microsystems vice president and managing director (Asia South) Lionel Lim. ``The computing paradigms have been constantly shifting and changing with various companies holding monopoly at each point. Java and Solaris have been aimed at shaping a new wave in Internet/network centric computing in keeping with the new paradigms in computing technologies,'' Lim said.

Java as a technology was currently on its fourth year of a 15 year cycle especially since most technology related applications were not full-fledged yet, he said. Going country wise, it was the best time for India to leap from one cycle and enter the next generation of technology-based applications, he added.

As for India and Singapore (ASEAN) specific focus, Sun is looking at leveraging the massive population of the region to create a market and intellectual capital for Sun technologies.

Speaking on the specific industry programmes, Lim said that while the Java Tarik was aimed at country-wise manpower development, certification and transfer of technology, the Asia-Java fund would look at non-equity linked investments in technology companies in the Asia-Pacific region.

``With the investment programme, Sun will not pick up equity stakes in the companies but will come in as a mid-stream investment partner to provide solid scalable infrastructure platforms which will also give the company the backing of a Sun branding,'' he said.

The fund was already looking at opportunities in Honk Kong and Singapore and will focus its operations in India starting July. The investments in each company are likely to range between $ 1- $3 million depending on the company valuations.

As for the iForce incubator program, the aim was to bring all the programmes together to complete the cycle, Lim said. Sun was all set to support its incubator partners to provide consultation, technology support and infrastructure, he added.

Sun has already signed up with ICICI as part of the iForce initiative and is in talks with companies like Reliance and VSNL for similar arrangements. Close to seven alliances have been signed up in Singapore and the incubation programmes would go on stream by July, he added.

``The basic strategy is a clean business model together with an open technology approach to create a community of users and market players for network-centric computing technology,'' Lim said.