Funding Open Source like public infrastructure
10 days ago
- #Government Funding
- #Open Source
- #Digital Infrastructure
- Governments should invest in Open Source as public infrastructure to protect essential digital services.
- Open Source evolution follows three stages: volunteer-driven, commercial sponsorship, and government support.
- A 2024 Harvard study estimates replacing widely used Open Source software would cost $8.8 trillion globally.
- 96% of the $8.8 trillion value depends on just 5% of contributors, creating fragility in digital infrastructure.
- Denmark and other European nations are reducing dependency on proprietary software by adopting Open Source.
- Governments rely heavily on Open Source but contribute little, exacerbating sustainability issues.
- UN and EU initiatives encourage Open Source investment and 'open by default' policies.
- Government funding models should include long-term commitments, procurement incentives, and 'Public Money, Public Code' policies.
- Public investment in Open Source is modest compared to physical infrastructure costs (e.g., highways).
- Teaching Open Source in schools and universities can build talent and digital self-reliance.