start-up, history, organisation

In 1983 Luk Knapen cofounds an engineering firm specialised in providing consultancy for security and software development. After 15 years, he decides to focus on the latter activity and leaves the engineering firm. He starts up, in 1998, a new company, Formal and Knowledge Systems (fks), together with Eric Smets.

Up till then Eric Smets had been developing software for about ten years. During the first four years he is an employee at fks, but as he gradually gets more and more involved in the company, he decides to become a full partner.

fks aims at providing consultancy for IT-projects (requirements analysis, process modeling, and so on) and at developing tailor-made software. Since 2000 project-related training sessions complement these two activities. One year later the company begins with project-independent training courses in Java and Linux.

A team of permanent and free-lance employees is responsible for supporting these activities. The two managing partners also act as trainers/consultants. 

fks is a private company with limited liability.

Activities

fks focuses on providing solutions based on Linux, Java, XML and open source components. Most of these solutions are developed for a particular client along a specific trajectory: requirements analysis, software product design, implementation (including testing), software (and hardware) installation, training and support.

As mentioned before, fks shares its knowledge about Linux, Java, and open source technology and tools by organizing training courses.

fks sometimes takes part in multidisciplinary projects as a subcontractor for specific IT-subsystems.

The company does not really target specific domains, but it has acquired considerable knowledge about and experience in the field of vessel traffic management software.

future developments

At the end of September 2004 fks moved to the Stationsstraat in Alken where we have the necessary facilities to organise training courses.

The company is constantly expanding its training and consultancy activities by integrating newly acquired knowledge and technologies in its portfolio. It remains a strong supporter of open source and Linux technologies.

strategy

"Because IT is moving so fast we do not only have to exploit our technological expertise to the full, but we also have to be alert to new tendencies and the ever changing path of information technology. Gradually, IT-products are becoming a commodity. That is why it is so important to emphasise open standards so that customers are less dependent on a specific IT-supplier. Consultancy, training, and support are supplier-independent issues and should focus on the customer.

An organisation, such as fks, has to deliver very practical consultancy and training services and to provide the customer with the basic knowledge and mechanisms he needs to successfully complete his daily routine. By combining open source, closed source and tailor-made software components we can deliver an optimal solution for our customers."