Google has teamed up with the Linux Foundation to create a new initiative called “Chromium-Based Browser Supporters.” Right now, most of the money that maintains Chromium, the open-source web browser project that produced the code base powering Chrome, comes from Google. The company says it has no plans to reduce its contribution in the future, but it also continues to “welcome others stepping up to invest more.”
Led by the Linux Foundation, the new initiative aims to fund the open development of Chromium projects and ensure adequate support for contributions that can lead to technological advancements. It also aims to provide a “neutral space” where developers, members of academia and large industry players can work together. Apart from Google, MicrosoftMeta and Opera have also pledged their support for the initiative.
Google said it created the new program after hearing “from many companies and developers about how critical Project Chromium is to their work” and how they would like to provide it with more than direct technical support over the years. Chrome is just one of the browsers built on Chromium. Microsoft’s Edge and Opera are also based on the project’s codebase, so their involvement in the initiative isn’t much of a surprise.
It should be noted that the Department of Justice requested dissolution of Google last year, notably with the sale of the Chrome web browser. Google stated in its announcement that it intends to continue supporting the Chromium project, but only time will tell if the sale of Chrome will affect its contributions.
