EU's tech sovereignty package includes 29 pages on Open Source, says OSI
18 hours ago
- #Public Procurement
- #EU Tech Sovereignty
- #Open Source
- The Open Source Initiative (OSI) welcomed the EU's new tech sovereignty package, noting that over a third of the 29-page document focuses on Open Source.
- The EU pledges to reform public procurement rules to prioritize Open Source, remove barriers, and uphold the 'public money, public code' principle, making the public sector an anchor consumer.
- The package includes commitments to support Open Source companies through funding under the European Competitiveness Fund and the creation of Open Source business accelerators for mentorship, training, and legal support.
- The EU will scale up the Next Generation Internet initiative as 'Open Internet Stack,' create an Open Source Maintenance Instrument for security upkeep, and promote Open Source as the default in Horizon Europe funding.
- The EU is leading by example in Open Source adoption, deploying Matrix-based systems, trialing alternative operating systems to Windows, and expanding presence on the Fediverse, including a Mastodon server.
- A discussion highlights criticism of Microsoft for including AI and spyware features in enterprise products, suggesting it may impact their market position as the EU shifts to Open Source.
- Comments note that Trump's policies and remarks could cost American proprietary software companies billions in European revenue, while benefiting Open Source alternatives like Red Hat.
- The adoption of Open Source is often hindered by decision-makers favoring proprietary solutions due to shiny presentations, rather than technical merits, in business settings.
- A proposed model for funding Open Source compares it to how doctors and lawyers profit from public domain knowledge by interpreting and applying it to specific client needs.
- Overall, the EU's initiatives aim to boost the Open Source ecosystem in Europe by addressing procurement, funding, maintenance, and awareness challenges.