OSOR has published an update to the Italy Country Intelligence report, highlighting recent trends and developments in the use of open source software (OSS) in the country. You can find the report here and the factsheet here.
The updated report outlines the evolution of OSS adoption in the Italian public sector since 2020. The Department for Digital Transformation , the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID) and state-owned company PagoPA S.p.A. have been the most active actors among policymakers in promoting the use of open source software. Developers Italia remains the main platform to access the open source solutions used by the Italian public sector, at national, regional and local level. This platform has included the OSS search filter. One of the key developments in the past year was the adoption of the ‘Three-Year Plan for Information Technology in Public Administration’ that set three open source related targets: 1) by the end of 2024, at least 100 public administrations should be releasing open source software in Developers Italia and at least 2,600 public administration should reuse open source software solutions in Developers Italia; 2) by the end of 2025, at least 125 public administrations should be releasing open source software in Developers Italia and at least 2,800 public administration should reuse open source software solutions in Developers Italia; 3) by the end of 2026, at least 150 public administrations should be releasing open source software solutions in Developers Italia and at least 3,000 public administration should reuse open source software solutions in Developers Italia. In parallel, Italy has updated their key policies and guidelines to promote OSS in the public sector: Guidelines on the acquisition and reuse of software for public administrations and the Digital Administration Code.
Strategic players like the Competence Centre for Reuse and Open Source (CCROS), Italian Linux Society and PDP Free Software User Group have complemented government efforts by providing enhanced technical support and fostering community engagement. In terms of relevant OSS initiatives, Italy has implemented Designers Italia, OpenCity Italia and IO app. Designers Italia is the main tool that public administration uses to create their digital services. OpenCity Italia is the new platform that ensures citizens access to Italian cities’ public services. Lastly, IO app allows citizens to manage digital signatures and payments to public sector, receive communications and receive communications.
Overall, Italy has made a huge step forward by including OSS promotion as part of its national policy and has made a significant update process in its use of open source software (OSS). The update of national guidelines and the adoption of the ‘Three-Year Plan for Information Technology in Public Administration’ have marked the Italian public sector's very good progress in promoting open source software.
