AbstractThe Open Microprocessor Systems Initiative (OMI) is an emerging sociotechnical constituency bringing together a panoply of technologies and institutions from almost every country of the European Community with a view to building up a targeted microprocessors capability. Its two main features are that it is application-driven, and that it is open both in technical terms and institutionally (not restricted to European-owned firms). It is targeted to generating a complete and competitive technological capability in a critical area in IT, and seeks to integrate the creation, production and diffusion moments of the technology.