Europe is at a critical turning point in its relationship with open source software. A recent report by the Linux Foundation, conducted in partnership with Canonical—the company behind Ubuntu—has put figures and context to a trend that has been brewing for some time: open source is not just a technical tool, but a strategic component for the continent’s competitiveness, innovation, and digital sovereignty.
The study, titled Open Source as Europe’s Strategic Advantage: trends, barriers, and priorities for the European open source community amid regulatory and geopolitical shifts, gathers interviews with experts and surveys from 316 organizations across Europe. Its conclusions paint a picture of a Europe that has widely adopted open source software, yet still lacks the organizational and political maturity to turn it into a true engine of transformation.
An extensive ecosystem, but with uneven maturity
The data is clear: 64% of European companies use open source for their operating systems, 55% in cloud and container technologies, and 54% in web and application development. Open source is present at nearly all levels of the technology stack.
However, this widespread adoption contrasts with a lack of formal strategy: only 34% of organizations have a well-defined open source strategy. Additionally, just 22% have established an Open Source Program Office (OSPO), internal offices dedicated to managing relationships with open source projects. These structures are vital to ensure legal compliance, optimize contributions, and align open source use with corporate objectives.
The lack of maturity is not only organizational but also cultural. The report reveals that 86% of non-executive employees do not see open source as essential to their organization’s future, compared to only 62% of C-level executives. This vision gap between the base and the leadership reflects a strategic deficit in decision-making bodies.
Recognized benefits: productivity, innovation, and competitiveness
Despite these shortcomings, European organizations broadly acknowledge the advantages of open source. According to the report:
- 63% say that OSS increases productivity.
- 62% highlight that it reduces dependency on external vendors (vendor lock-in).
- 58% state that it decreases total cost of ownership (TCO).
- And perhaps most notably, 69% believe that open source makes them more competitive.
It’s not just about cost savings. 75% of respondents believe that open source development leads to higher-quality software, and 58% directly link it to driving innovation in their sectors.
This leads to a clear conclusion: open source is no longer viewed as a secondary or niche option but as a lever for competitiveness across diverse sectors such as telecommunications, banking, industry, and public administration.
The contribution gap: many consume, few give back
While adoption is widespread, the report highlights a structural problem in Europe’s relationship with OSS: a low contribution rate.
More than 50% of organizations either do not contribute to open source projects at all (23%) or do so very minimally (20%). 8% are unaware if their company contributes. Only 28% employ full-time developers as maintainers or regular contributors.
The paradox is that companies that do invest decisively see clear returns: 81% of those with full-time contributors report high or very high value from their investment.
Why then is contribution so limited? The reasons cited by companies include:
- Legal and licensing concerns (31%).
- Fear of intellectual property leakage (24%).
- Lack of understanding of OSS value beyond technical aspects (34%).
These barriers are directly linked to strategic immaturity: without clear policies, OSPOs, and executive support, companies tend to adopt a passive consumption stance, even at the risk of weakening the ecosystem that provides them advantages.
Open source as a path to digital sovereignty
One of the most relevant themes of the report is the role of OSS in European digital sovereignty. In a context marked by geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and technological dependencies, policymakers and business leaders are recognizing that open source software can be an alternative to reduce vulnerability to a small group of global providers.
89% of respondents see OSS as the main avenue to develop a sovereign AI in Europe, far above other options such as open data (69%) or open standards (69%).
Concrete examples like the OpenGPT-X project in Germany, Inspect in the UK, and the emerging Mistral AI in France demonstrate that Europe has talent and flagship projects, although additional public and private investment is needed to compete with American and Chinese giants.
Philippe Ensarguet, Vice President of Engineering at Orange and member of the Linux Foundation Europe Board, summarizes this clearly in the report: “The shifting geopolitical landscape underscores the importance of open source: relying solely on providers from certain regions can be risky, and open source software offers a way to mitigate that dependence.”
Regulation and lack of awareness: the cybersecurity resilience challenge
The report also identifies a concerning gap regarding emerging cybersecurity regulation. 62% of organizations admit they are unfamiliar with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), set to come into force in 2027, which among other things, will require providers to generate a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) upon authorities’ request.
Organizations heavily involved in OSS projects are leading in this area: 43% of highly committed manufacturers already produce an SBOM for all their products, compared to 26% of less involved ones.
This demonstrates that active participation in OSS not only fosters innovation but also helps organizations stay ahead of regulatory requirements that, if unmet, could lead to sanctions or decreased competitiveness.
Public policy examples: Germany and France as references
The report also highlights success stories in government initiatives. Germany, through its Sovereign Tech Agency (STA), directly funds critical OSS projects for digital infrastructure. France, on the other hand, has launched the French Tech Souveraineté Fund, supporting projects like Probabl, a spin-off of scikit-learn focused on sustainable data science communities.
Both examples demonstrate how states can play an active role in ensuring the sustainability of open source software that underpins strategic sectors. The Linux Foundation suggests Europe could consider creating a pan-European sovereign technology agency to coordinate investments and support more broadly.
Investment priorities and the future of OSS in Europe
The study identifies key areas where open source will be most influential in the coming years:
- Operating systems (43%).
- AI and machine learning (38%).
- Cybersecurity (34%).
Furthermore, respondents prioritize building open alternatives to tech monopolies (55%), promoting government adoption of OSS (52%), and recognizing open source as a digital public good (31%).
The message is clear: Europe’s future competitiveness in key sectors depends on developing a mature and coordinated open source strategy at both the corporate and governmental levels.
Conclusion: a turning point for Europe
The Linux Foundation and Canonical’s report sketches a nuanced picture. On one hand, Europe has talent, projects, and an ecosystem of widespread adoption that makes open source a decisive factor for innovation and digital sovereignty. On the other, cultural, strategic, and regulatory barriers still hinder its full consolidation.
The challenge for the coming years is to transform passive adoption into active involvement, with investments, ambitious public policies, and corporate strategies that recognize the value of OSS beyond costs.
In a world shaped by geopolitical and technological competition, open source emerges not only as a pragmatic choice but as a strategic advantage for Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why is open source software so important for European digital sovereignty?
Because it reduces dependence on foreign providers and ensures critical technological foundations can be audited, modified, and maintained by European actors—key in a geopolitically tense environment.
2. Which European sectors benefit most from OSS use?
Primarily telecommunications, banking, public administration, data science, and increasingly, AI development and cybersecurity.
3. What is the main obstacle preventing companies from contributing to open source projects?
Concerns about legal and licensing issues, intellectual property leakage, and the lack of clear strategies and dedicated open source offices (OSPOs) managing contributions effectively.
4. How can Europe strengthen its open source ecosystem in the coming years?
Through sustained public funding policies, more ambitious private investments, establishment of OSPOs within companies, and greater collaboration among governments, communities, and the private sector to support strategic projects.
via: canonical