Some news from Open Application Group CEO, David Connelly:

I am pleased to announce that the Chemical Industry Data Exchange (CIDX), announced earlier this week a plan to transition the organization’s operational and governance roles to the Open Applications Group (OAGi) by year-end pending an affirmative vote by CIDX members in November.

The plan was developed in response to the chemical industry’s need to more fully develop cross-industry standards to facilitate eBusiness with its customers outside the chemical sector. The plan calls for CIDX to transfer operational control to OAGi and governance to the ChemITC beginning January 2009. Under the proposal, the Chem eStandards® will remain free, and new cross-industry standards from OAGi will also be free.

I was there at the CIDX meeting this week working with the CIDX team and members to develop a transition plan. The OAGi Board of Directors is fully behind this initiative, and we hope to share more details with you soon.

You can read the full press release here.