Open Source Maturity in Europe: Milestones, Opportunities, and Pathways in 2024

Open source software (OSS) is at a critical juncture in Europe, offering significant potential to drive digital innovation, enhance security, and promote digital autonomy. The new Linux Foundation Research report, Open Source Maturity in Europe: Milestones, Opportunities, and Pathways in 2024, focuses on European data gathered in its annual World of Open Source survey as well as in-depth interviews with industry experts, policymakers, and community leaders to examine the current role of open source software in Europe and uncover the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. It’s full of important insights that reflect a flourishing open source ecosystem in Europe that is not without its challenges.

With the opportunity to achieve faster innovation, greater digital autonomy, and position itself as a global leader in open source development, Europe must recognize and act on the need for sustained investment and regulatory clarity to successfully shift to more open and collaborative technologies and practices across all sectors. Let’s look at some highlights from the report!

Key Benefits and Growth Areas

Europe has seen significant growth in the use of and contribution to open source software, with over half of respondents from our recent survey noting increased value from OSS each year. This trend indicates the growing benefits of OSS, such as cost savings, reduced vendor lock-in, and opportunities for learning. Sectors such as IT, government, and higher education are particularly well-positioned to benefit from open source investments, with experts advocating for long-term support for open source communities to ensure sustainable development.

The public sector represents a significant opportunity for open source adoption. Survey respondents highlight the need for greater government investment in open source as a "digital public good." However, outdated procurement policies and regulations that are incompatible with open source create barriers to widespread adoption.

High-Interest Areas: Security and AI

Open source software is increasingly recognized for its contributions to enhancing software security. The survey reveals a high level of trust in OSS for security purposes, with 76% of respondents stating that OSS is more secure than proprietary software. Additionally, open source models are gaining traction in artificial intelligence (AI). The growing momentum in open source AI is fueled by industry trends and new regulatory developments, though concerns about transparency and safety in AI models remain significant obstacles.

Regulatory Landscape and Challenges

Europe's regulatory environment is rapidly evolving, especially with the inclusion of open source in key legislation like the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). This shift reflects the EU’s growing commitment to cybersecurity and competition, but it introduces complexities that the open source community must navigate. National and EU-level regulations sometimes conflict with the global, collaborative nature of open source development, which calls for careful policymaking to balance both.

While these regulations provide an opportunity to enhance security, they also pose challenges, particularly for small, volunteer-driven communities that may struggle to meet the governance and transparency standards required by new laws.

Skills Gaps and Organizational Inertia

Despite widespread support for open source principles, there are persistent challenges to adoption. One of the major barriers is a skills gap, particularly in public and non-tech sectors, where digital transformation is slower. Open source adoption also requires a cultural shift toward openness and collaboration, which many organizations, especially in traditional industries like manufacturing and finance, find difficult.

Organizational inertia poses another significant challenge. In many European companies, software is not traditionally viewed as a core competency, leading to a lack of investment in open source tools and talent. This mindset is compounded by outdated procurement practices that favor established vendors over open source solutions.

Public Sector Collaboration and Open Source

There is growing support for the "public money, public code" principle, which argues that publicly funded software should be open to the public. This idea is gaining traction in Europe as a way to promote transparency and accountability in public services, as well as create cost savings when it comes to building public sector and citizen-centric solutions. Several governments are adopting open source strategies, such as Germany’s Zentrum Digitale Souveränität (ZenDis) and France’s Open Source Program Office (OSPO), which support the use and development of open source software in public administration.

Despite these initiatives, there are still barriers to adoption in the public sector, particularly around outdated regulations and infrastructure. Collaborative efforts among municipalities and national governments could help overcome these challenges, as seen in Sweden and Denmark, where public-sector bodies are working together on shared open source projects.

Investment Priorities and Recommendations

The report highlights several areas where increased investment in open source would be beneficial. These include government support for open source as critical digital infrastructure and long-term investments in developer communities. The survey shows a growing interest in open source AI models and other emerging technologies, including cloud computing, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing.

Experts also call for reforming procurement practices to better accommodate open source models, which would help level the playing field for smaller open source providers and promote competition.

Learn More

Access the full report here to learn more about Europe’s current position and future opportunities in the open source software ecosystem.