Open Source is in our DNA by Philippe Krief (Eclipse Foundation)

This presentation, “Open Source is in our DNA”, delivered by Philippe Krief (Eclipse Foundation), explores the strategic role of open source in Europe’s digital future. It highlights how open source powers critical technologies, aligns with European values of openness and collaboration, and acts as a catalyst for research, innovation, and technology transfer. Drawing on Mario Draghi’s report, it stresses the risks of fragmentation and the benefits of unity in competitiveness and sovereignty. The slides position open source as a key lever for Europe to build strong communities, set standards, and achieve digital sovereignty in a global race dominated by the U.S. and China. The main takeaway: Europe must invest in, build, and support open source as a cornerstone of its digital commons, competitiveness, and resilience

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Open source
is in our DNA
Philippe Krief, PhD
Research Relations Director
Eclipse Foundation

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Research in Europe
is all about Collaboration!
Photo by Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash
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Why Europe Needs Open Source

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Open Source ate the world
Sources: TODO
Group, Forrester
Open source makes up
80-90% of applications
% companies consuming
open source in products or
services
81%80-90%44%
% firms contributing to
upstream open source
projects
●Open source is the main stream
○Powers cloud, AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and more…
○Embodies EU values: openness, trust, collaboration

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Some insights from Mario Draghi’s report
●Fragmentation ⇒ loss of competitiveness
○Duplication, incompatible standards (telecom, GDPR, railway)
○Fragmentation of financial instruments that prevents large-scale investments
○Fragmentation in energy, innovation, trade, defence politics
●EU share dropped (22% ⇒ 18%)
○While that of the United States increased (30% → 38%)
○Increased global competition
●UNITY ⇒ Multiplier effect
○Acting together allows the EU to leverage its collective strength (public purchasing
power, diplomatic weight, internal market).

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What Open Source Brings

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Shared
Platform
Software
Vendors
Researchers
Prototypes
RequirementsIndustrialization
Products & Expertise
Innovation
Technology Transfer
Large
Organizations
Research Project Consortium

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Open Source
Software
Software
Vendors
Researchers
Prototypes
RequirementsIndustrialization
Products & Expertise
Innovation
Technology Transfer
Large
Organizations
Open Source as a catalyst of Research projects

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https://www.slideshare.net/appstacle/open-source-as-a-business-opportunity
“No company can realize the IoT on
its own …
Within the Eclipse Community,
through the contribution of many
IoT developers, tools and standards
are created on an open platform
that many companies can benefit
from for their IoT applications.”
Stefan Ferber
Former CEO

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Close Innovation vs Open Innovation
http://bock-pm.com/service/open-innovation/

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Call to Action: Europe’s Path

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The Imbalance in the Platform Economy
Caught between China’s state-led model and U.S. business-driven ecosystem
(*) https://www.netzoekonom.de/2018/05/19/deutschland-landet-im-digital-economy-and-society-index-der-eu-auf-rang-14/

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The Imbalance in the Platform Economy
(*) https://www.netzoekonom.de/2018/05/19/deutschland-landet-im-digital-economy-and-society-index-der-eu-auf-rang-14/
(**) https://www.infoworld.com/article/3253948/who-really-contributes-to-open-source.html
Who contributes
to open source
(**)
Caught between China’s state-led model and U.S. business-driven ecosystem

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Where does Europe stand in this race?
●Recognition vs. Contribution:
○Many EU organizations see open source benefits,
but few actively contribute—only 34% have a
strategy and 22% a dedicated unit (OSPO).
●Digital Sovereignty:
○Open source is key for EU digital autonomy, yet
investments, strategies, and political coordination
are lacking.
○
●Management Gap:
○86% of staff see its value, but only 62% of top
management do.
https://www.heise.de/en/news/Open-source-dilemma-in-the-EU-too-many-see-benefits-too-few-contribute-10624536.html

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Cost
Participants
Before: Commoditization strategy
Examples:
The shifting impact of Open Source
Now: how Innovation happens
Examples:
Value
Participants

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Europe at a Crossroads: Sovereignty and Competitiveness
●EU must define its own path to digital sovereignty
○Set standards: “If you don’t set standards, you are following them”
○Build Strong Communities
○Demonstrate Value
○Facilitate Implementation
○Address competition
○Engage with Regulators
●Open source is a strategic lever for competitiveness & resilience

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Take away…
★Free technologies ⇒ European Digital Commons
★Open Source ⇒ European Game Changers
★Open Source ⇒ in European DNA
Europe should Invest, Build, and Support
Open Source

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White paper on the role of Open Source in Europe
● EU Sovereignty and Competitiveness
●Artificial Intelligence (AI)
● New Regulations on Hardware
●The Emerging Fourth Sector
●Geopolitical Tensions
●The Skill Shortage
eclipse.org/research/

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COPYRIGHT (C) 2020, ECLIPSE FOUNDATION, INC. | THIS WORK IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL LICENSE (CC BY 4.0)
Philippe Krief
[email protected]
Thanks!
Copyright (c) Eclipse Foundation AISBL and contributors. Made available under CCBYSA 4.0 International.