Heinlein Group participates in the EU consultation: „Towards open digital ecosystems in Europe“

The Heinlein Group has been committed to digital sovereignty, data protection and open source for over 30 years. Our solutions - mailbox, OpenTalk and OpenCloud - prove it: European alternatives are not only technically feasible, but also competitive. But for open source to develop its full potential, a clear political course needs to be set.

Strengths and challenges of the European open source ecosystem

• Strengths: Europe has an active open source community and innovative companies that develop high-quality solutions. Transparency, security and flexibility are key values for digital sovereignty.
• Challenges: Many projects fail due to a lack of long-term funding, a lack of scalability and the dominance of non-European providers. In addition, the fragmentation of standards hinders interoperable use.

Open source as the key to digital sovereignty

Open Source enables:

• Cost efficiency through reduced license costs and fewer dependencies.
• Security thanks to transparent code bases and faster vulnerability fixes.
• Innovation through collaborative further development and open standards.
• Competitiveness, as European companies can develop their own, controllable solutions.

The Heinlein Group recommends that the EU prioritize the following measures:

1. Targeted promotion and financing

   • EU-wide funding programs for open source projects, especially in critical areas such as cloud, AI and cybersecurity.
   • Public procurement guidelines that favor open source (e.g. binding criteria in tenders).
   • Support for open source business models, for example through public-private partnerships or tax incentives.

2. Standardization and interoperability

   • Development of EU-wide standards for open source solutions to avoid fragmentation.
   • Creation of a central platform for the exchange of best practices and the coordination of projects.

3. Strengthening cooperation

   • Mandatory open source clauses in publicly financed IT projects.
   • Expansion of competence centers for training and knowledge exchange.

4. Prioritized technology areas

   • Cloud infrastructure
   • Secure communication (video conferencing, e-mail, messaging)
   • AI and data management (GDPR-compliant frameworks)

The EU institutions themselves should use open source solutions in their daily operations and in crisis preparedness. Examples:

• Secure internal communication: Video conferencing, e-mail and collaboration tools for routine operations and confidential coordination.
• Crisis communication: Reliable platforms for emergencies, such as cyber attacks or geopolitical conflicts.
• Hybrid working: GDPR-compliant tools for secure remote collaboration.

Open source solutions such as OpenTalk and OpenCloud are ideal here: they can be operated as SaaS or on dedicated infrastructure, can be tested at code level and can be adapted to specific security requirements.

The Heinlein Group welcomes the European Commission's initiative and is ready to contribute its expertise and resources to its implementation. A consistent open source strategy is essential to secure Europe's digital sovereignty and strengthen its global competitiveness.

We call on the EU to make open source the standard for public and private IT infrastructures.