Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) has launched the Comcast Technology Research & Development Fund, intended to promote third-party research and development efforts among researchers at academic institutions and elsewhere. The focus is on long-term research into technologies and applications that are of mutual interest to Comcast and the research community. Researchers selected for grants will have access to financial support, network data access where feasible and hands-on support from Comcast engineers.The first grant recipients include support for a new Open Home Gateway Forum, to develop open source-based home gateway software, and support for RIPE Atlas, RIPE NCC's global Internet measurement network, to expand more fully in the United States.