The ELAN e.V. was formed in 2008 from the E-learning funding program E-Learning Academic Network Lower Saxony (ELAN), which was carried out in three phases from 2002 to 2009 by the state of Lower Saxony for Lower Saxony universities. In addition to the nationwide networking of universities that help shape e-learning, the aim of the program was to set up infrastructure for digital teaching and to create content in the field of e-learning.
ELAN e.V. was founded by seven universities on October 20th, 2008 in order to keep track of the accumulated knowledge of the ELAN funding program and to be able to make it available to the Lower Saxony universities on an ongoing basis. It was founded in close cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Culture. Founding members were the following universities in the state of Lower Saxony:
ELAN e.V. is now an important player in the development and operation of modern open source software solutions for digital teaching beyond national borders.