Should Governments Pay for Open Source Maintenance? A European Answer

Should governments pay for the maintenance of open source software? If so, how should they do it — and how much is enough? This talk will present the findings of a forthcoming feasibility study conducted by OpenForum Europe, together with Fraunhofer ISI and Professor Thomas Streinz of the European University Institute, on the potential design and impact of an EU Sovereign Tech Fund. The study provides a concrete economic and legal foundation for a structured European investment mechanism in open source software — one that could strengthen cybersecurity, reduce systemic risk, and advance digital sovereignty. Beyond the technical findings, the presentation will reflect on the policy process itself: what it means to work with governments on digital infrastructure questions, and how the framing of open source as infrastructure is gaining traction in European policymaking. Drawing on OFE’s experience across institutions and Member States, this talk will offer insight into both the substance and the politics of public investment in open digital infrastructure.