Credits: Boris van Hoytema.
About the network
Welcome to the EU OSPO Network — a community connecting Open Source Programme Offices and similar initiatives across EU public services.
Established in 2021 through a joint initiative of the City of Paris and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Digital Services (DG DIGIT), our mission is to foster collaboration and coordinate efforts around free and open source software in the public sector, with a strong focus on cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
We work to advance the adoption of open source in European public administrations and to support the release of publicly funded software as open source.
1. Who can become a member?
The network welcomes all OSPOs and similar organisations from public services in the European Union Member States. We define OSPOs loosely to include any organisation working on strategies to manage and prepare public services for the use of free and open source software.
2. How do we work?
- We meet once a month, online, and in-person once a year in combination with a relevant conference.
- The European Commission's OSPO is the secretariat to ensure continuity and maintain a historical perspective.
- We have an invite-only Matrix channel for members, and present ourselves publicly on this webpage on the Interoperable Europe Portal.
3. What do we aim to achieve?
Our goal is to help create effective projects and programs on free and open source software in EU public services by identifying synergies and common needs. We believe software created by and for public services should be subject to the principles of democratic governance. We aim to foster digital commons, promote the reuse of software made by public administrations in different Member States, and provide a support network for public services to set up their own OSPOs.
4. How to become a member?
If you are working for an OSPO or a similar organisation in the public sector in the European Union, we invite you to join our network by getting in touch with us [at] eu-ospo-network@ec.europa.eu. We look forward to welcoming you to our community and working together to promote free and open source in European public services.
5. How to stay informed about the EU OSPO Network?
If you simply wish to get informed about the EU OSPO Network but not become an active member, you can join this collection through the "Subscribe" button at the top-right corner of this page.
Note: This document is an iterative and living document, subject to review and updates. We "eat our own catfood" by reusing and promoting free and open source software and approaches developed by our network members.
