Overview of the Open Source Strategy
The document presents Berlin’s Open Source Strategy, authored by Martina Klement, State Secretary for Digitalisation and Administrative Modernisation. It outlines Berlin’s ambition to strengthen digital sovereignty and innovation by reducing reliance on proprietary software, fostering open‑source collaboration, and integrating open‑source technologies across public administration.
Core Goals and Vision
The strategy aims to achieve a digitally sovereign Berlin that leverages open‑source solutions to enhance resilience, transparency, and efficiency. It defines a vision of a digital Berlin where open‑source software, open standards, and collaborative development underpin public services, supporting citizens, businesses, and research institutions.
Strategic Targets and Timelines
Key targets include:
- By 2028, all staff designated for open‑source training will have completed it.
- By 2029, 50 % of currently used proprietary software will have identified open‑source alternatives with migration plans.
- By 2030, participation in at least 30 strategic open‑source projects on openCode as maintainers or contributors.
- By 2031, at least 50 % of annual software‑procurement spending will be on open‑source‑licensed solutions.
- By 2032, 70 % of the IKT‑workplace software stack will be open source.
Main Measures Implemented
Seven measure groups drive the strategy:
- Building Open‑Source Competences – central and role‑specific training programs, curriculum integration, and community events.
- Engagement in the Open‑Source Ecosystem – formal participation in communities, contribution guidelines, and collaboration platforms.
- Open‑Source Governance and Communication – establishment of governance structures, risk‑ and compliance management (ISO 5230, ISO 18974), and public outreach.
- Critical Software‑Dependency Identification – systematic risk assessments, software‑asset management, and dependency mapping.
- Strengthening Open‑Source in the IT Landscape – central software‑asset registry, sandbox environments for testing, and a phased migration roadmap for the IKT‑workplace.
- Optimising Open‑Source Procurement and Awarding – “Open Source First” criteria, adaptation of EVB‑IT contracts, and mandatory public‑code publishing.
- ITDZ Berlin as OSPO – the IT Service Centre acts as the Open‑Source Program Office, providing advice, scouting, and coordination for all administrative bodies.
Institutional Framework and Partnerships
The strategy aligns with federal and state policies, including the IT‑Planning Council’s Digital Sovereignty strategy and the Berlin Senate’s Digital Law. It references collaborations with the Open‑Source Directory, IHK Berlin, Bitkom, and the Open‑Source Business Alliance. The OSPO will coordinate with national initiatives such as ZenDiS and the Open‑Source Observatory.
Budget and Resources
The initiative is supported by the Berlin administration’s budget, leveraging existing competence centres and allocating resources for training, governance, and tooling. No specific monetary figure is given beyond the overall public‑sector funding context.
Relevance for Sustainable Housing
For a pan‑European audience focused on sustainable housing, the strategy demonstrates how public administrations can lower environmental impact by adopting open‑source software: reduced vendor lock‑in, extended software lifecycles, and greater transparency in procurement. Open‑source tools can support energy‑efficiency monitoring, building‑information‑modelling, and citizen‑engagement platforms, aligning digital transformation with climate‑friendly housing policies.