Join in

Catalyst projects bring together TM Forum member organizations of different sizes, backgrounds, and levels of experience. Every organization and individual joining a project commits to working collaboratively. All team members have an equal voice in the project’s direction, development, and decisions.

Participating organizations must:

• Sign a Statement of Work or Project Contract for each project they join.
• Provide suitable employees who can actively contribute to project work and deliverables alongside other team members and TM Forum personnel.
• Ensure that everyone representing the organization on the project is directly employed by that organization.
• Promote the project through their organization’s marketing channels.
• Provide appropriate support for the live showcase event.

The level of commitment will vary depending on the project. Roles and responsibilities are agreed upon by the team, but project meetings typically take place every one to two weeks.

Individual project team members must:

• Be employed by an officially contracted project member organization.
• Participate consistently in project calls and meetings.
• Contribute to relevant technical work, including definition, design, implementation, and testing.
• Meet program marketing and operational deadlines and deliverables.
• Support and attend the live event showcase.
• Be willing to take on a key role where needed, such as Project Lead, Co-Lead, Marketing Lead, or Technical Lead.

Participation is confirmed at the organizational level. Every organization whose employees participate in or contribute to a Catalyst project must have an appropriate contract in place.

TM Forum uses Catalyst Master Service Agreements and Statements of Work to make it easier for members to join Catalyst projects.

Master Service Agreement (MSA)

• Members are strongly encouraged to sign a Catalyst MSA, even if they are not currently planning to join a project.
• Once signed, the MSA applies to future Catalyst project participation.

Statement of Work (SOW)

• An SOW can only be issued when the member has signed a Catalyst MSA.
• A separate SOW is required for each Catalyst project the member joins.
• It includes the relevant project and event details, along with any applicable fees.
• It is initiated after written confirmation or approval that the member is joining the project team.

Project Contract

A standard Project Contract is used when the MSA and SOW process does not apply.

• A separate Project Contract is required for each project the member joins.
• It includes the relevant project and event details, along with any applicable fees.
• It is initiated after written confirmation or approval that the member is joining the project team.

Invoices

An invoice is issued when:

• The project team has reached Active status.
• The relevant SOW or Project Contract has been signed.

All Catalyst projects operate on RAND (Reasonable and Non-Discriminator) terms. Your team decides whether to retain its intellectual property or share it as a contribution to TM Forum.

Enhancements to your own products

If your team develops an enhancement or customization specifically for its own products or solutions:

• Your organization retains exclusive ownership of that intellectual property.
• It is treated as proprietary Partner IPR Content.
• You are not required to share it with the wider Catalyst project or TM Forum membership, or contribute it to a TM Forum standard.
• TM Forum receives a limited license to use relevant content to promote and showcase the Catalyst project and the team’s work.

The provisions covering Partner IPR Content only apply if you choose to include that content in a contribution to a TM Forum standard, as defined in the TM Forum Policy on Intellectual Property Rights.

Contributions to TM Forum

If your team chooses to contribute its work to a TM Forum standard:

• Contributions could include API specifications, data models, or metadata used to define TM Forum assets.
• The contribution is shared with the TM Forum community.
• Other members can use it as part of the relevant standard.
• The contribution becomes part of TM Forum’s collective industry standards and is made available to other TM Forum members.

The choice remains with your team. TM Forum does not take ownership of your proprietary intellectual property or require you to share it unless you decide to contribute it. This allows teams to protect their own innovations while also having the option to contribute to wider industry development.

Please contact the Catalyst team if you need help understanding how these IPR arrangements apply to your project.

Joining a Catalyst project gives your organization opportunities to develop its profile, promote its expertise, and connect with the wider industry.

Profile and promotion

Benefits include:

• Networking and visibility through a dedicated Catalyst project webpage.
• Promotion through TM Forum marketing campaigns before, during, and after the event.
• A showcase video and tailored self-promotion marketing toolkit.
• Opportunities to demonstrate your solution to industry peers at TM Forum events.
• A branded project showcase stand at relevant events.
• Eligibility for a Catalyst Team Award.

Marketing support

Project marketing can include:

• One promotional video.
• An article about the project published on TM Forum Insight.
• Exposure through TM Forum emails and newsletters.
• Company and logo visibility at TM Forum events.
• Social media posts before and after the event, published and promoted through TM Forum channels.
• A project overview infographic for Moonshot Catalyst teams.

Project assets and support

Teams receive:

• An interactive Catalyst project webpage on tmforum.org.
• Lead-generation data from people following the project.
• Eligibility for the Open Innovation Catalyst Awards.
• Support from subject matter experts.
• A self-promotion marketing toolkit.

Moonshot Catalyst teams also receive:

• Access to an Executive Coach who can mentor the team and provide feedback.
• Eligibility for the Moonshot Catalyst Awards.

At the event

Event support and opportunities include:

• A branded project stand in the dedicated Catalyst zone, where teams can deliver demonstrations and capture leads.
• A presentation on the Catalyst Innovation Arena stage.
• On-site support from TM Forum.
• Two complimentary Exhibitor/Conference passes.
• A 25% discount on additional Exhibitor/Conference passes.
• Opportunities to meet senior executives attending the event.
• Social activities, including food and refreshments, where participants can meet and network.

Moonshot Catalyst teams also receive a panel discussion on the main DTW Ignite agenda. Each team selects one Champion representative to take part.

Organizations can take one of two roles within a Catalyst project.

Champion

Champions are potential users or buyers of the solution, such as communications service providers or enterprises from other industry sectors.

Champions:

• Define the challenge and demonstrate its commercial importance to the industry.
• Contribute to defining the requirements for the proposed solution.
• Inspire and guide the development of potential solutions.
• Review proposed solutions and provide feedback.
• Act as the team’s backer and business sponsor.

There is no Champion fee for TM Forum members. Each project requires a minimum of two Champions.

Participant

Participants develop the solution and deliver its proof-of-concept demonstration. They could include technology vendors, hardware or software suppliers, systems integrators, and consultancies.

Participants:

• Define and lead project plans and timelines.
• Explore and develop the solution.
• Design and deliver the proof-of-concept demonstration.
• Apply relevant industry knowledge and existing assets to the solution.
• Document what the team learns and contribute relevant findings back to the industry.

A participation fee applies according to the relevant fee scale. Each project requires at least three paying Participants, although exceptions may apply.

Visit the Catalyst Member Portal for a full details including Catalyst cycle’s deadlines and deliverables.

Key Milestones for DTW Ignite 2027

• 5 October 2026 – Call for Catalysts opens and Matchmaking begins.
• 16 October 2026 - Deadline for Early Bird submission with exclusive perks.
• 4 December 2026 – Deadline for Catalyst submissions for the DTW Ignite 2027 cycle.
• 30 March 2027 – Deadline for teams to finalize project titles and descriptions.
• 29 June to 2 July  2027 – DTW Ignite 2027.