Open source as a growth engine for Berlin's digital future

The strategic importance of open technologies for Berlin as a digital location

The results of a representative survey conducted by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry are clear: open source software (OSS) is no longer a niche topic, but a decisive economic factor for Berlin as a digital location.

The survey clearly shows that open source is more than just a technical alternative – it is a locational advantage. Three out of four Berlin companies surveyed already rely on OSS. The reasons: cost efficiency, flexibility, and less dependence on individual providers. Over 80 percent of companies also expect digital sovereignty to play an even greater role in software procurement in the future. Cooperation with regional IT service providers is also considered increasingly important.

These figures confirm that the use of open source is a strategic business decision – for greater innovation, digital independence, and long-term value creation in Berlin.

Challenges and how to solve them

At the same time, the survey shows that there is still a lot to do. Berlin companies cite the conversion of existing IT systems and user habits (49 percent), lack of maintenance and support (42 percent), and a lack of expertise (28 percent) as key challenges.

However, open source is no longer a niche topic. There are many open source companies in Germany with professional development teams, product management, and reliable support. These companies and their partners help with the conversion of existing systems, can be flexibly integrated into existing infrastructures thanks to open source technology, and offer support and security with regular updates and reliable support contracts. OpenTalk, for example, offers corresponding framework agreements and manufacturer support for professional use in its business version.

Berlin as a pioneer – with further action needed

With the establishment of the Open Source Competence Center (OSK), Berlin has taken an important step toward strengthening open source. As a central point of contact, the OSK supports and advises the Berlin administration on the procurement and introduction of open source software.

The first Berlin Open Source Day, which was organized last summer by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Berlin) in collaboration with the Open Source Business Alliance (OSBA) and the Senate Chancellery, was a resounding success and is set to continue in winter 2025. Peer Heinlein, founder and managing director of the Heinlein Group and OpenTalk, initiated and helped organize this Open Source Day in his capacity as a member of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a member of the extended board of the Open Source Business Alliance. The aim was to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by open technologies and to use best practices to show how a professional and sustainable IT strategy can work. So there is a lot going on, all that is missing is the long-planned state-owned open source strategy for Berlin.

Why Berlin needs an OSS digital strategy

In order to systematically exploit the potential of open source, a strategic orientation at the state level is necessary. Schleswig-Holstein has recently set an example and now wants to switch its entire state IT to open source solutions. From the perspective of the Berlin companies surveyed, an OSS digital strategy for Berlin should include the following points:

• Anchoring an “open first” principle in public procurement
• Converting administrative IT to open source
• Promoting OSS initiatives through investment programs and start-up financing
• Providing information and training opportunities in the administration
• Networking the OSS community with business and start-ups

A strengthened open source competence center as a central point of contact for administration and business, together with the desired measures, would create the basis for greater digital independence, sustainable IT development, and future-oriented procurement practices. Berlin still has the opportunity to position itself as one of the pioneers of open source technologies.

Conclusion: Open source is the future, not a niche

The IHK survey confirms impressively that open source is a key factor for Berlin's economy and will become even more important in the future. Companies such as the Heinlein Group, which includes the open source video conferencing solution OpenTalk and the open source file management solution OpenCloud, show that the business and public sectors have professional providers with years of experience at their side who can support them with expertise and support in the transition to digitally sovereign IT infrastructures. An ambitious OSS digital strategy for Berlin would now be an important next step for the digital future in Berlin.

The course for Berlin's digital future is now being set – with companies such as the Heinlein Group, which has been relying on the power of open technologies for over three decades and proving that digital sovereignty, data protection, and economic success are not mutually exclusive.