The Open Source Observatory (OSOR) has just published a comprehensive new study examining how local governments across Europe are adopting, developing, and collaborating on open source software solutions.

The report, entitled ‘Open Source Software Adoption and Reuse in European Local Governments: A Multiple-Case Study’, provides critical insights for public administrations at the local level seeking to adopt and reuse open source technologies. In particular, the study highlights adoption and collaboration dynamics from the perspectives of governments, communities and suppliers, looking at how cross-border sharing and reuse in local governments can support the achievement of the EU's Digital Decade 2030 targets and the goals of the Interoperable Europe Act.

Why a study on open source in local governments?

As European public administrations face mounting pressure to digitalise services and ensure cross-border interoperability, open source software presents both significant opportunities and complex challenges. The study addresses a critical knowledge gap by examining mature, real-world examples of local government open source collaboration, moving beyond theoretical discussions of public sector open source to provide practical guidance based on documented experiences from cities and regions across Europe.

While understanding of the adoption and reuse of open source technologies in public administrations is increasing, this OSOR-commissioned report recognises a fundamental gap: the lack of rigorous, theoretically-grounded and policy-relevant research on open source in local government. This academic knowledge gap influences policy and practice, too, creating issues for governments interested in achieving the goals of adopting and reusing open source solutions across borders, one of the key goals of OSOR and the Interoperable Europe Act.

Taking a comparative approach, the research team from RISE, OpenForum Europe, and Wavestone conducted over 23 interviews across five detailed case studies spanning multiple countries and governance models, offering new insight into what works – and what doesn't – in local government open source.

Five diverse stories of open source adoption and reuse

The study examined five distinct open source projects that demonstrate different approaches to public sector collaboration:

• Consul Democracy showcases how a citizen participation platform originally developed by Madrid City Council has grown into a global community of over 100 public organizations, despite facing challenges when political support shifted and the project transitioned to foundation governance.
• OS2borgerPC and MedborgarPC illustrate cross-border collaboration between Danish and Swedish local government associations, demonstrating both the potential and complexities of sharing public library computer management systems across national boundaries while navigating supplier relationships.
• Golemio represents an internally-focused approach, where Prague's city-owned IT company developed a smart city data platform primarily for local needs, raising important questions about community development versus local optimisation.
• Parlameter shows how civil society organisations can drive public sector open source adoption, with a Slovenian non-profit developing parliamentary transparency tools that have expanded across multiple countries and government levels.
• Digitransit demonstrates successful national-scale collaboration in Finland's public transport sector, while highlighting governance challenges that can limit international expansion.

Key insights for local governments

The study identifies several critical success factors that emerge across different contexts. Local governments need clear strategies for acquiring necessary capabilities, whether through internal development, quasi-public entities, or external partnerships with foundations and associations. It reveals that successful projects typically require some form of external stewardship as they scale, while also providing concrete archetypes for different approaches to open source collaboration.

For local governments interested in contextualising and operationalising these insights, the study concludes with ten actionable recommendations for European public administrations at the local government level. These include treating open source as a multi-purpose policy tool, explicitly mapping adoption barriers, designing solutions for reuse from day one, and ensuring diverse funding models to avoid over-dependence on single actors.

As European local governments work toward greater digital interoperability and cross-border service delivery, OSOR hopes this comprehensive new study provides both inspiration and practical guidance. The case studies demonstrate that successful open source adoption in the public sector is achievable, but requires careful attention to governance, community building, and long-term sustainability.

Learn more about the report

The full report and detailed case studies are now available on the OSOR platform, offering public administrators concrete examples and frameworks for their own open source initiatives. For European public sector organisations committed to a vision for digital sovereignty, cybersecurity and competitiveness that leverages open and collaborative innovation, this research provides an essential roadmap for navigating the complexities of open source adoption while maximising the benefits of shared development and cross-border collaboration.

Join our OSOR webinar on 2 October to learn more about this work from the researchers and case study participants. You can learn more about the webinar and sign up here.