This page contains information about: events organised by OSOR on the use and development of open source software, open source policies in Europe, and sustainability of open source communities in the...
This page is periodically updated. If you wish to make a contribution, please do not hesitate to contact us by email: EU-OSOR@ec.europa.eu. The Knowledge Centre gives you access to key information...
Observatories
Last update: 22/03/2024
The OSOR Handbook
The OSOR Team is pleased to release the initial version of the OSOR Handbook, a longstanding project aimed at providing essential information to the open-source community within the public sector. This guide is tailored for European public administrations and their officials seeking to develop or implement an open source software (OSS) strategy. Over the past 15 years, OSOR has been a valuable resource, aiding administrations in adopting a comprehensive approach to OSS. The purpose of this handbook is to serve as a guide, consolidating key solutions and insights from the collective experience…
CollaborationDigital-ready policymaking+6 topics
Last update: 29/02/2024
The Interoperable Europe Act and the open source community
The European Parliament's plenary has adopted the Interoperable Europe Act, securing overwhelming support, with 524 out of 639 Members voting in favour during the first reading. The legislation, aimed at bolstering cross-border interoperability in digital public services, received broad backing from major political factions.Expected to become European law after a single reading, the Act targets improved data exchange between EU Member States, addressing challenges in the current landscape. Ivars Ijabs, the designated rapporteur on the Act, highlighted the necessity for swift cross-border…
European PoliciesLegal+4 topics
Last update: 18/01/2024
Perspectives and Visions of Open Source Actors
A recent paper titled: “Open Source and Free Software: Perspectives and Visions of Open Source Actors” (in French) has been published by the OpenStudio group. Compiling 15 interviews, and providing an analysis of them, this white paper gives an overview of various actors of the French open source community. OpenStudio, a digital services company engaged in open source and a member of OW2 since 2023, has sought to contribute in its own way by publishing a white paper. The arguments and numerous testimonials in this white paper, complementary to other high-quality works on the subject, aim to…
European PoliciesLegal+3 topics
Last update: 09/01/2024
State of OSS in Nigeria
OSOR has just published the first version of its report on the state of open source in Nigeria. This report offers an overview of the country's recently initiated digital government reforms. Structuring 36 federated states, the Nigerian central government is also coordinating a wider policy work with the other member states of the African Union. As such, there are currently no policies in Nigeria that mandate the use of open source software (OSS) in public administrations. However, the ongoing efforts at the federal level in Nigeria are focused on creating a more open and transparent…
LegalObservatories+2 topics
Last update: 15/12/2023
Licence compliance for open source users
As we see a rise in the use of open source across EU administrations, the question of licence compliance is increasingly important. Hermine is an open source software aimed at assisting in the formulation of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) policies. Its primary objective is to provide a structured framework for systematically analysing FOSS licences. “The Hermine project originated from the aspiration to have a fully open source toolchain for handling open source compliance. During our work, we realised that most of the required building blocks for this toolchain were already available as...
ObservatoriesSmart cities
Last update: 18/12/2023
Use of open source in German administrations
The recently published Bitkom Open Source Monitor 2023 highlights the surge in the adoption of open source software (OSS) across various sectors in Germany, particularly within public administration. The study, sponsored by PwC Germany and meticulously designed by industry experts, provides comprehensive insights into the trends and developments surrounding OSS in Germany.One of the pivotal revelations of the study is the substantial increase in the integration of OSS within public administration. As per the survey findings, a notable 59 percent of the surveyed public authorities are actively…
France officials to use an open source alternative: Olvid
The French Prime Minister instructed government officials to uninstall popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal from their mobile devices due to security vulnerabilities. This directive came through a circular dated November 22nd. Instead, officials are mandated to switch to Olvid, a French-developed OS messaging application. The decision to promote Olvid is a significant boost for the app, created by cybersecurity experts Thomas Baignères and Matthieu Finiasz.Olvid operates similarly to other messaging apps in terms of its basic functionalities, allowing users to create…
LegalObservatories+3 topics
Last update: 01/12/2023
New reports on China and Mexico
OSOR has just published the first versions of reports on the state of open source in Mexico and China. These reports offer a comprehensive overview of each country’s use and policies on open source software as of 2023. They delve into the evolution of policies in recent years and provide various examples of open source usage in public administration specific to each nation.In these reports, you will discover the key governmental bodies actively involved in open source initiatives. In Mexico, the reports highlight the roles of the National Digital Strategy Coordinator and the Public research…
We want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who joined us on 21st November for the 15th anniversary celebration of the European Commission’s Open Source Observatory (OSOR). Your presence and active involvement made the event, "OSOR Turns 15: From Pioneering to Mainstreaming Open Technologies in Public Services,” a great success.For those of you that missed the event, don't miss the recording of the event here.At the conference, we had a blast honouring the people who’ve been driving open source in Europe's public services. The OSOR Awards ceremony was a highlight, giving a well-deserved…
LegalObservatories+3 topics
Last update: 27/11/2023
Moldova OpenCode
Announced in June 2023, Moldova has now launched its OpenCode.md platform. This initiative, spearheaded by the company Diginet, centres on open source solutions which aim to achieve “Digital Public Goods” classification. Furthermore, the platform provides access to open content collections and open data.One of the criteria for software to be included is that it must be FOSS. The platform provides a list of approved licences which uses OSI-approved licences for software, Creative Commons licences for open content, and a selection of licences for open data. Solutions must additionally fulfil the...