OSOR has published an update to the Portugal Country Intelligence report, highlighting the country’s developments in the use of open source software (OSS). You can find the report here and the factsheet here.
This updated version of the 2020 report includes the most recent developments in the use and promotion of open source software in the Portuguese public sector. The Administrative Modernization Agency (AMA) has maintained its relevance as the main policymaker promoting the use of open source software. In this regard, AMA has developed the Common Model for Design and Development of Digital Services (MOSAICO), and currently manages infrastructure projects such as the national public services portal and app (Gov.pt), the Citizen Card (national ID card), the interoperability platform and the digital identity ecosystem.
Outside the public sector, there are two strategic players that also contribute to open source software projects in the Portuguese public administration: the Association of Portuguese Open Source Software Companies (ESOP), and the National Association for Free Software (ANSOL). Both organisations participate in open source initiatives such as Public Money? Public Code!, organise dedicated open source events, engage with national and EU parliaments and share their expertise on open source through monitoring open standards infringements and explanations about applicable legislation to open source software software projects.
Portugal's public sector has maintained the application of Decree-Law no. 107/2012 of 18 May 2012, and has come up with new policy frameworks that further promote the use of open source software, mainly the Common Model for Design and Development of Digital Services (MOSAICO), and the National Digital Strategy (EDN). MOSAICO includes the 11 principles for public administrations to follow when designing and developing digital public services. Among the principles is “Make new code open source”. It includes an explanation of the benefits of open source software, the applicable legislation - Law no. 36/2011- and a list of best practices. Regarding the EDN, this strategy foresees the promotion of full systems interoperability and the integration of public services for a unified experience, as well as the establishment of a robust digital governance system, and the promotion of open data and the national data portal (dados.gov.pt). Besides, it has incorporated the Strategy for the Digital Transformation of Public Administration 2021-2026 which included an incentive model for open source cloud solutions.
Since 2020, Portugal has developed new open source software initiatives such as the Portuguese public services portal (gov.pt), Digital Identification middleware and the launch of the participatory platform (participa.gov.pt). Gov.pt serves as an online one-stop-shop for public services that was built with Liferay DXP and replaced the previous ePortugal portal. Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão) and the Chave Móvel Digital, uses open source middleware components such as OpenSSL and Poppler. Lastly, Participa.Gov.pt is the open source participatory platform that allows citizens to submit proposals and decide through their vote in the decision making process.
Overall, Portugal has benefited from long established regulation that promotes open source software, which has been complemented by the adoption of MOSAICO framework, and active policy and strategic players such as AMA, ESOP and ANSOL. As a result, Portugal has managed to update their open source initiatives and create dynamic and relevant new ones.
