Open Source in European Local Governments

On October 2, 2025, the Open Source Observatory (OSOR) hosted a webinar dedicated to the adoption and reuse of open source software in European local governments. The event brought together open source enthusiasts to discuss the findings of a new OSOR study focused on how local governments are making open source work in practice, and discover the testimonies of 2 open source practitioners.

The webinar centered on the OSOR study “Open Source Software Adoption and Reuse in European Local Governments: A Multiple-Case Study.” The research, led by Nicholas Gates (Senior Policy Advisor at OpenForum Europe), Johan Linåker (Senior Researcher at RISE), as well as Yannis Chourmouziadis and Simon Weber, aimed to fill a gap in comparative research on open source adoption at the local government level. The study mapped over 1,000 projects, policies, and activities, and included interviews with 21 people across five case studies. It explored collaborative development, maintenance, creation, and reuse of open source solutions, with a focus on cross-border sharing and interoperability.

Consul Democracy: A leading civic participation platform originating in Madrid, now widely adopted across Spain and internationally. The study highlighted its evolution from a city-led initiative to a foundation model, emphasizing lessons on financial sustainability, governance, and community engagement.

OS2borgerPC & MedborgarPC: An open source solution for managing public computers, developed in Denmark (OS2borgerPC) and adapted for Sweden (MedborgarPC) through the association Sambruk. This case illustrated cross-border collaboration, the role of associations in procurement and maintenance, and the importance of adapting solutions to local needs.

Golemio: A smart city data platform developed by Operator ICT, a joint-stock company owned by the City of Prague. Golemio integrates and manages urban data, focusing on public transportation, and demonstrates how open source principles can be embedded within city-owned entities to foster collaboration and trust among stakeholders.

Parlameter: A parliamentary monitoring tool created by a civil society organization and used in Central and Eastern Europe. Parlameter’s case showed how non-profit actors can tailor open source solutions to local contexts and build close relationships with municipalities, even when technical capacity is limited.

Digitransit: An open source mobility platform in Finland, built on top of OpenTripPlanner and customized for the Helsinki region. Digitransit exemplifies the benefits of leveraging existing open source communities and standards to scale and localize solutions for public transport.

The study’s cross-case analysis revealed several key lessons and actionable recommendations:

• No one-size-fits-all model:
  Success comes from a mix of international foundations, national associations, public service suppliers, and civil society organizations. Projects benefit from combining these models and adapting to local context. 

• Governance and sustainability are essential:
  Effective governance, often through foundations or associations is key for long-term sustainability. Diversifying funding sources and avoiding reliance on a single entity or grant is critical. 

• Design for interoperability and reuse from the start:
  Building solutions with open standards, modularity, and adaptability makes sharing, scaling, and maintenance easier. Interoperability should be a guiding principle, not an afterthought. 

• Leverage associations and civil society:
  Associations like Sambruk provide technical expertise, training, and ongoing support, helping local governments overcome capacity gaps and build confidence. 

• Foster cross-border sharing and adaptability:
  Open source solutions can be successfully adapted to different legal, cultural, and organizational contexts. Cross-border collaboration enriches projects and accelerates innovation. 

• Anticipate and address barriers:
  Challenges such as vendor lock-in, restrictive procurement rules, and limited technical capacity are common. These can be mitigated by collaborative approaches, capacity building, and clear communication. 

• Plan for maintenance and long-term support:
  Maintenance must be considered from the outset, including in procurement processes. Ensuring that funding and support for open source solutions are built in from the beginning is vital for sustainability.

Two practitioners, interviewed as part of the study, attended the webinar to share their analyses and feedback on the adoption of open source by local authorities. Thomas Vandersten (Sambruk, Sweden) and Miruna Muscan (Code for Romania), delivered compelling insights into the realities of open source adoption at the local government level. Their participation was particularly relevant, ensuring that the discussion was grounded in practical experience and directly reflected the findings of the research.

Thomas Vandersten illustrated how Sambruk, a consortium of over 160 Swedish public organizations, has become a catalyst for open source software adoption. By centralizing procurement and technical expertise, Sambruk enables even the smallest municipalities to access  solutions like MedborgarPC, a platform for managing public computers. Key takeaways from Sambruk’s approach include:

• Association-based procurement: Sambruk streamlines access to digital solutions, reducing administrative burden and ensuring compliance with procurement laws.
• Sustainability through shared governance: Sambruk coordinates a board consisting of one representative from each organization using MedborgarPC to crownfund development and maintenance, making open source viable for resource-constrained municipalities.
• Lessons learned and continuous improvement: Throughout the MedborgarPC project, the Sambruk team identified several areas for improvement: the necessity to conduct a thorough code review beforehand, to analyse the associated community, and to enhance communication with members. These lessons, drawn from practical experience, now guide Sambruk's practices for future projects and demonstrate that collective action and shared stewardship can overcome technical and financial barriers, making open source a practical choice for the public sector.

Miruna Muscan shared the journey of Code for Romania, a non-profit dedicated to delivering open source solutions for NGOs and public institutions including Consul Democracy. Her intervention highlighted both the transformative potential and the persistent obstacles of open source in the Romanian context:

• Barriers to scale: Restrictive procurement rules, vendor lock-in, and limited technical capacity remain significant hurdles for municipalities.
• Capacity building and empowerment: Code for Romania’s hands-on support, tailored training, and community-building efforts have been crucial in enabling local governments to adopt and sustain solutions such as participatory budgeting platforms.
• Strategic recommendations: Miruna emphasized the need for coherent national digital strategies and stronger government involvement to move from isolated pilots to systemic adoption. Her experience underscores that civil society can be a powerful driver of change, but institutional support and policy alignment are essential for lasting impact.

The OSOR webinar confirmed the growing importance of open source for digital transformation in local governments across Europe. By sharing concrete experiences and actionable recommendations, the event highlighted both the opportunities and the practical challenges faced by local governments. They demonstrated that success depends on collaborative governance, sustainable funding, capacity building, and a supportive policy environment, offering a roadmap for other regions seeking to replicate these achievements.

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• Master deck: Access all key slides and materials presented during the webinar here.
• Read the Study: Find the OSOR study on Open Source Software Adoption and Reuse in European Local Governments: A Multiple-Case Study here.
• Webinar replay: Watch the full session here.
• Timecodes:
  • Study presentation: [00:08:45 – 00:48:00]
  • Voices from the Field: Lightning Talks
    • Thomas Vandersten (Sambruk, Sweden): [00:49:00 – 01:05:00]
    • Miruna Muscan (Code for Romania): [01:05:30 - 01:27:30]
  • Panel discussion and Q&A: [01:27:30 – 01:53:00]