Open source data management software vendor Ingres has re-launched its Ingres Partner Programme to increase its geographical reach and target new markets.

A Bronze, Silver and Gold structure has been added to the vendor’s existing programme.

Ketan Karia, senior vice president of marketing of Ingres, said: “Ingres is looking for VARs and distributors in areas where it is not already established, so it is focusing on eastern Europe and the Far East.”

Karia said that Ingres already has an established partner base in US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, India and Singapore, where the vendor continues to seek additional ISVs and system integrators.

“There are different needs for each geographical area and as Ingres grows it will continue to grow its relationships with partners. With joint marketing funds Ingres and its partners will continue to expand into new markets,” he added.

Analyst house Gartner has predicted that the open source database market will grow at 40 per cent compound annual growth from $274m in 2008 to $553m in 2011.

In a statement Nick Breeds, chief architect, public sector software at Capita Software Services, said: “At the centre of Capita Software Services solutions is the Ingres database and a 10-plus year business relationship that was given yet more impetus in 2006 by the emergence of Ingres as an independent company. This latest partner initiative from Ingres gives us further confidence in our ability to deliver on our promises to our customers,”

“Ingres is a strategic element of our offering and we see the latest iteration of the partner programme as yet more evidence of their desire to help partners like us provides customers with market-leading solutions and service. The Partner Summit is ideal to launch the new programme,” he added.